The Tears of All Beings Outweigh the Vast Ocean

Have you ever stood atop a high mountain, gazing out at the distant sea, and wondered: Is the ocean's water saltier than human tears?

In a lecture on the Dhammapada, Venerable Thích Chân Quang tells the story of a young novice named Tissa, who answered that question with such depth that it sends a shiver through us.

The Story of a Poor Man and a Bowl of Porridge

Long ago, Venerable Sāriputta, foremost in wisdom and a leader of the Sangha, had a friend of his father's. This man was a poor Brahmin who felt inferior because the Venerable's family was wealthy and powerful. Yet he possessed a deep and sincere spiritual heart. He would secretly listen to the teachings, avoiding the Venerable because he felt unworthy. Then he saved up, going without food and comforts, to cook the most delicious mixed porridge and buy the finest piece of cloth, which he offered to Venerable Sāriputta.

The Venerable quietly ate the porridge and draped the cloth upon himself. He knew it contained all the sweat and tears, all the devotion, of that man. Thanks to those blessings from merit, the man passed away and was reborn into a wealthy lay family, becoming the young novice Tissa, the little disciple of Venerable Sāriputta.

When Fame and Gain Become a Burden

Tissa was loved by everyone, and people made offerings to him everywhere. But he soon realized that worldly praise and affection were not true happiness. He asked his teacher for permission to retreat into the deep forest to practice. After a period of diligent effort, he attained realization.

The Buddha knew this from afar and came to visit with the monks. During a dharma talk, the Buddha led the novice up a high mountain to gaze upon the vastness of earth and sky.

When I see the ocean, I understand that the tears of all beings are greater than the waters of the sea.

That statement is no exaggeration. The ocean, vast as it is, has limits, while the tears of all beings are endless throughout samsara (cycle of rebirth). Each of us has passed through countless births and deaths, enduring layer upon layer of suffering (dukkha). Standing on the mountaintop, looking out over the boundless earth, Tissa continued:

When I see the vast expanse of the earth, I understand that there is no place where the bones of beings have not been buried.

These words remind us that the very ground we walk on and stand upon has been the resting place of countless beings across innumerable lifetimes. We ourselves have died there, here, and in many other places, more times than we can count.

The Three Answers of an Arahant

The Buddha asked further: "When you were practicing in the forest and heard the roar of wild beasts, how did you feel?" Tissa replied:

When I heard the roar of wild beasts in the early morning, my heart loved the wild forest so deeply!

In the face of fear, a noble one does not panic but finds only love and peace. The Buddha praised him and taught that if we cannot come to love the wild forest, we must examine our own virtue.

The bliss of nirvana is different from worldly pleasures. Disciples of the Buddha, monks, understand this clearly: do not be infatuated with fame and gain; practice the life of renunciation.

A Lesson on Impermanence and Samsara

The world is an illusion, and fame and gain are castles built on sand. When the wave of impermanence (anicca) arrives, it sweeps everything away. Only our karmic deeds of wrongdoing and merit follow us through samsara (cycle of rebirth). If we see through the boundless suffering of all beings, we will no longer struggle for victory or chase after fleeting values. We will reconsider how we live and set for ourselves a new program, one that is nobler, more lasting, and more joyful.

Remember that the tears of all beings outweigh the vast ocean. Do not let your life drift in suffering (dukkha). Return to a pure mind/heart and walk the noble path, the path of nirvana and of renunciation.