307. Venerable Tissa, the nephew of the Lord’s father, came to the Lord crying. Then the Lord said to him: “What is wrong, Tissa? Why do you sit beside me sad, downcast and with tears running down your face?”
“Lord, it is because all the monks have been jeering at and mocking me.”
“Tissa, that is because while you do not speak gentle words towards others, you are unable to endure it when they do not use gentle words towards you. It is not fitting that you who have given up the household life to become a monk should speak harsh words. But if you do you may have to endure the hard harsh words of others.”
Thus said the Lord, and he added this verse:
“Why are you angry Tissa?
Meekness is best for you,
To restrain anger, pride and hypocrisy is best.
This is why we live the holy life.”
S.II,282 (SN 21.9)