The Last Four Months

**Summary:** After hearing that the Buddha would soon enter nirvana, the monk Tissa dedicated all his energy to earnest practice, withdrawing from others. Misunderstood as eccentric, the Buddha praised him and taught about true diligence.

The Jeta Forest that afternoon was unusually quiet. Pale golden sunlight stretched across the gravel paths, and the sounds of birds gradually faded. Within the Sangha, a young monk sat beneath a tree, eyes closed, his breathing even and steady. His name was Tissa, a gentle, quiet monk. But today, he seemed completely different from his usual self.

It began four months earlier, when the Buddha had solemnly announced to the assembly: "O monks, in four months, the Tathagata will enter nirvana." The words struck like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky. Everyone was stunned and moved. But for Tissa, it was a shock that reached to his very core. He had not yet attained enlightenment, had not achieved anything at all. If the Buddha were to leave, he would remain adrift in the currents of life, with no place to take refuge.

From that day on, Tissa transformed into a different person. He silently withdrew from all communal activities. Early in the morning, while others were still sweeping the courtyard, he was already sitting in meditation beneath a tree. During dharma talks, he would sit in the farthest corner, his eyes fixed on the ground. If someone came to greet him, he would simply nod and walk away quietly. When invited to go on alms round together, he refused, preferring to carry his bowl alone. Gradually, people began to talk.

"Tissa has been acting strangely lately. His practice was always normal; why has he suddenly become so eccentric?" one monk remarked with a shake of his head.

"Perhaps he is trying to show he is superior. Seeing the Buddha about to pass away, is he putting on an act of diligence to get noticed?" another commented.

Whispers spread throughout the Sangha. Some looked at Tissa with disapproval, others sighed in disappointment. As for Tissa, he did not utter a word of explanation or defense. He simply bowed his head, clenched his hands tightly, and told himself: "I must try harder. I cannot waste time. The Buddha is leaving soon."

But deep within, he also had moments of inner struggle. Some nights, sitting in meditation in the forest, listening to the incessant chirping of insects, a wave of loneliness would rise in his heart. He wondered: "Am I doing the right thing? Everyone misunderstands me. Should I just live as before, blend in with the community, and practice gradually?" But then he would recall the Buddha's teaching: "This body is impermanent; life is as fragile as a lamp before the wind." He would push those thoughts aside and continue his diligent practice.

One morning, after the sutra chanting session, the Buddha called Tissa over. He placed his hand on the young monk's shoulder, looked at the assembly, and said:

"O monks, do not misunderstand Tissa. He is not being eccentric, nor is he arrogant. He knows that in four months the Tathagata will depart, and he himself has not yet attained enlightenment. Therefore, he is pouring all his energy into practice. A person like this truly honors the Tathagata."

The assembly fell completely silent. Many hung their heads, ashamed of their mistaken judgments. Tissa, meanwhile, felt tears silently streaming down his gaunt cheeks. He could not speak a single word, only bowed his head in prostration before the Buddha. In his heart, a profound emotion surged: "You understand me, Master. You have seen my true heart."

Following the Buddha's words, Tissa practiced with even greater diligence. But this time, he was no longer afraid or anxious. He knew he was on the right path. He still sat in constant meditation, but his gaze had become gentler, and a smile returned to his lips. He was still a man of few words, but he was no longer seen as eccentric. People now looked at him with respect and understanding.

Four months later, the Buddha entered nirvana in a state of complete peace and freedom. As for Tissa, he continued on his path of practice. He did not know if he would attain enlightenment, but he knew that he had spent the final days by the Buddha's side as fully as he possibly could. He had not wasted a single moment.

**The Meaning of the Story**

The story of the monk Tissa teaches us about genuine diligence. True diligence is not for showing off, not for proving oneself superior, but for the goal of enlightenment and for heartfelt reverence. The truly diligent are often quiet, persistent, and without pretense. Conversely, fake, boastful diligence leads only to arrogance and suffering. We should practice for our own peace and for the benefit of all, not for outward appearances.

*Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang*