Related:: [[Teaching the Dhamma]] # Student of Dhamma (How to be a good Student of Dhamma) ## Being a Good Student ![[DN34 Dasuttarasutta#^8-things-good-student]] ### Do NOT Negotiate! Because "I do not know!" ![[MN70 Kīṭāgirisutta#^student-should-not-negotiate]] ### Treat the Teacher as a Friend, not an Enemy > [!NOTE] Treating teacher as Friend, not Enemy — In Mahāsuññatasutta ([MN122](https://suttacentral.net/mn122/en/sujato)) > So, Ānanda, **==treat me as a friend, not as an enemy==**. > _Tasmātiha maṁ, ānanda, **==mittavatāya==** samudācaratha, **==mā sapattavatāya==**._ > > That will be for **your lasting welfare and happiness**. > _Taṁ vo bhavissati **dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya**._ > > --- > And how do disciples treat their Teacher as an enemy, not a friend? > _Kathañcānanda, satthāraṁ sāvakā sapattavatāya samudācaranti, no mittavatāya?_ > > It’s when the Teacher teaches Dhamma to his disciples out of kindness and sympathy: > _Idhānanda, satthā sāvakānaṁ dhammaṁ deseti anukampako hitesī anukampaṁ upādāya:_ > > ‘This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness.’ > _‘idaṁ vo hitāya, idaṁ vo sukhāyā’ti._ > > **But their disciples don’t want to listen. They don’t actively listen or try to understand. They proceed having turned away from the Teacher’s instruction**. > _Tassa sāvakā na sussūsanti, na sotaṁ odahanti, na aññā cittaṁ upaṭṭhapenti, vokkamma ca satthusāsanā vattanti._ > > That’s how the disciples treat their Teacher as an enemy, not a friend. > _Evaṁ kho, ānanda, satthāraṁ sāvakā sapattavatāya samudācaranti, no mittavatāya._ > > --- > And how do disciples treat their Teacher as a friend, not an enemy? > _Kathañcānanda, satthāraṁ sāvakā mittavatāya samudācaranti, no sapattavatāya?_ > > It’s when the Teacher teaches Dhamma to his disciples out of kindness and sympathy: > _Idhānanda, satthā sāvakānaṁ dhammaṁ deseti anukampako hitesī anukampaṁ upādāya:_ > > ‘This is for your welfare. This is for your happiness.’ > _‘idaṁ vo hitāya, idaṁ vo sukhāyā’ti._ > > **And their disciples want to listen. They actively listen and try to understand. They don’t proceed having turned away from the Teacher’s instruction**. > _Tassa sāvakā sussūsanti, sotaṁ odahanti, aññā cittaṁ upaṭṭhapenti, na ca vokkamma satthusāsanā vattanti._ > > That’s how the disciples treat their Teacher as a friend, not an enemy. > _Evaṁ kho, ānanda, satthāraṁ sāvakā mittavatāya samudācaranti, no sapattavatāya._ > ### Even when being repeatedly Corrected and Pressed > [!caution] Treating teacher as Friend, not Enemy — In Mahāsuññatasutta ([MN122](https://suttacentral.net/mn122/en/sujato)) > So, Ānanda, **==treat me as a friend, not as an enemy.==** > _Tasmātiha maṁ, ānanda, **==mittavatāya samudācaratha, mā sapattavatāya==**._ > > That will be **for your lasting welfare and happiness.** > _Taṁ vo bhavissati dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya._ > > **==I shall not mollycoddle you like a potter with their damp, unfired pots.==** > _Na vo ahaṁ, ānanda, tathā parakkamissāmi yathā kumbhakāro āmake āmakamatte._ > > **==I shall speak, correcting you again and again,==** > _Niggayha niggayhāhaṁ, ānanda, vakkhāmi;_ > > **==pressing you again and again.==** > _pavayha pavayha, ānanda, vakkhāmi._ > > The core will stand the test.” > _Yo sāro so ṭhassatī”ti._ ^treat-teacher-as-friend-even-when-corrected-and-pressed ## 5 Qualities suitable for Spiritual Striving ![[MN85 Bodhirājakumārasutta#^5-qualities]] ![[Brahmacariya#What Makes or Breaks a Successful Spiritual Life?]] ## Different Types of Students ### 4 Types of Dhamma students ![[DN28 Sampasādanīyasutta#^4-types-of-practice]] ![[AN4.133 Ugghaṭitaññūsutta#^summary]] ### Students with different "Responsiveness" or "Potential" ![[DN28 Sampasādanīyasutta#^4-levels-of-responsiveness]] ## Suttas - [[DN34 Dasuttarasutta#^8-things-good-student|DN34 Dasuttarasutta]] — 8 things helpful for developing wisdom - AN8.2 Paññāsutta ([link](https://suttacentral.net/an8.2/en/sujato)) — same as mentioned in DN34 - MN15 Anumānasutta ([link](https://suttacentral.net/mn15/en/sujato)) - 16 Qualities in people who are hard to admonish / teach - [[MN70 Kīṭāgirisutta]] - Buddha mentioned how to be a proper student - AN2.24 Bālavagga ([link](https://suttacentral.net/an2.21-31/en/sujato)) - A fool will try to interpret a teaching which is explicit, or see something as explicit where it actually needs interpretation - How to find the right teacher? - [[MN95 Caṅkīsutta]]