Tears More Vast Than the Ocean

Novice monk Tissa, through the merit of past lives, renounced fame and fortune to dwell in seclusion in the forest and realized the path to enlightenment. Standing atop a mountain with the Buddha, he came to understand the suffering of all beings through profound answers about the ocean and the earth.

That morning, as the first rays of sunlight crept through the leaves, Tissa was sitting in meditation within a small cave in the ancient forest. All around were only the clear songs of birds and the rustling wind through the canopy of old trees. Suddenly, a cool, gentle breeze swept through, and before the eyes of the young novice, a teacher with a compassionate countenance appeared — the Buddha himself.

Tissa quickly rose, joined his palms, and bowed respectfully. The Buddha smiled, his gaze kind:

"Come, Tissa, let us go up to that mountain peak."

The novice asked nothing further and simply followed. Teacher and disciple walked along the winding mountain path, crossing rocky gullies and dense thickets. The Buddha moved at a leisurely pace, his feet seeming to glide over the earth. Tissa followed with graceful steps, showing no fatigue. Behind them, some monks and villagers attempted to climb after them, but they gradually fell behind, unable to keep up.

Upon reaching the summit, a vast panorama opened before them. White clouds drifted beneath their feet, and endless mountain ranges stretched out to the horizon. The Buddha stood silently for a moment, then spoke:

"Look, Tissa. From this mountaintop, if one possesses the divine eye, one can see the great ocean. Do you see the sea?"

Tissa, with hands joined and eyes shining brightly, gazed into the distance. His vision seemed to pierce through space, beyond layers of clouds and countless mountain ranges, until the image of the boundless ocean appeared clearly. He answered:

"Lord, I see the sea."

The Buddha asked again:

"When you see the sea, what do you think?"

Tissa pondered for a moment, then replied slowly:

"Lord, when I see the sea, I think that the tears of beings in samsara are more than the water of all oceans."

The Buddha nodded in approval:

"You speak the truth."

He then cast his gaze across the four directions, over the endless green forests and the small villages scattered in the valley. He asked further:

"Look, Tissa. When you see this great earth, what do you think?"

Tissa looked around, then answered:

"Lord, when I see this great earth, I understand that there is no place where the bodies of countless beings from past ages are not buried."

The Buddha smiled, his eyes filled with affection:

"Well said, my dear one."

He paused briefly, then asked one more question:

"Tell me, Tissa, as you dwell in seclusion in this forest, when you hear the cries of beasts of prey hunting for food, how does it make you feel?"

Tissa smiled, a serene light shining in his eyes:

"Lord, when I hear the cries of beasts in the wilderness, my heart feels a profound love for the wild forest."

The Buddha gazed silently at the young novice, a sense of joy rising within him. He knew the boy had truly realized the path, had transcended all worldly attachments, and had found true peace in the solitude of the mountains. He then spoke a verse:

"The bliss of nirvana differs from worldly pleasures. Monks, disciples of the Buddha, understand this clearly: Do not be attached to fame and fortune, But practice the path of renunciation and detachment."

Tissa's story began many lifetimes ago. In a past life, he was a poor Brahmin, a friend of the father of the Venerable Shariputra. Learning that his friend's son had renounced the world and attained great wisdom, he developed deep faith but felt ashamed of his poverty. He would secretly go to listen to the Dharma talks, avoiding Venerable Shariputra out of embarrassment. Yet, his reverence grew, and he wished to offer something to the elder. He saved every grain of rice and every small coin until he could cook a fragrant pot of mixed grain porridge and buy a beautiful piece of cloth. When he made the offering, Venerable Shariputra understood it was given with all his heart, so he respectfully ate all the porridge and draped the cloth over his body. After the Brahmin passed away, thanks to this merit, he was reborn into a wealthy lay family as Tissa.

From a young age, Tissa had a natural connection with Venerable Shariputra and requested to renounce the world at the age of seven. He was loved by everyone and received offerings from all over, but he never became attached to these comforts. Seeing how the visits from relatives and devotees became a disturbance, he sought permission from his teacher to go into the forest for seclusion. It was precisely through this renunciation of fame and fortune that he realized the path in a short time.

When the Buddha and Venerable Shariputra came to visit, the villagers were astonished to hear this young novice teach the Dharma with the eloquence of an Arahant. Some felt joy, others envy, but Tissa remained calm and unruffled. He simply smiled, holding no resentment. For this reason, the Buddha himself came to praise and instruct him.

From then on, Tissa continued his path of practice, becoming a young Arahant, a shining example of renunciation and diligent effort. His life is proof that true happiness does not lie in fame and fortune, but in the liberation of the mind and heart.

**The Meaning of the Story**

The story of novice Tissa reminds us that worldly fame and fortune are merely temporary and fleeting. True happiness is only found when we learn to let go of attachments, live simply, and practice diligently. The tears of beings in samsara are endless; therefore, we should learn to return and take refuge in the Buddha's teachings (Dharma), seeking the peace of nirvana.

*Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang*