Even when sixty years old he did not realise that he was a worldling (puthujjana). Then, one day, his pupil Dhammadinna of Talaṅgara came to him, asking for his company in a journey to Tissa-Mahāvihāra, where he had been asked to teach. Mahātissa greeted him, and in the course of conversation, Dhammadinna discovered that his teacher was under the false impression that he was an Arahant. Wishing to show him his error, he persuaded Mahātissa, by his psychic power, to create a pond, and in the pond a lotus, which a young girl was picking. At the sight of the girl, Mahātissa was possessed by lust, and realised that he was no Arahant. Dhammadinna withdrew, and that same day Mahātissa put forth effort and attained Arahantship. AA.i.25.