# Teaching the Dhamma Tags:: #dhamma/teaching ## 7 Qualities of a Good Dhamma Teacher ![[AN7.68 Dhammaññūsutta#^7-qualities]] ## Basic Principles ### 5 Things to Establish before Teaching the Dhamma > [!NOTE] Establish 5 things before Teaching the Dhamma — In Udāyīsutta ([AN5.159](https://suttacentral.net/an5.159/en/sujato)) > “Ānanda, it’s **not easy to teach Dhamma to others**. > _“Na kho, ānanda, sukaraṁ paresaṁ dhammaṁ desetuṁ._ > > You should **establish five things** in yourself before teaching Dhamma to others. > _Paresaṁ, ānanda, dhammaṁ desentena **pañca dhamme ajjhattaṁ upaṭṭhāpetvā** paresaṁ dhammo desetabbo._ > > What five? > _Katame pañca?_ > > **(1) You should teach Dhamma to others thinking: ‘I will teach step by step.’ …** > _‘Anupubbiṁ kathaṁ kathessāmī’ti paresaṁ dhammo desetabbo;_ > > **(2) ‘I will teach showing my method.’ …** > _‘pariyāyadassāvī kathaṁ kathessāmī’ti paresaṁ dhammo desetabbo;_ > > **(3) ‘I will teach out of kindness.’ …** > _‘anuddayataṁ paṭicca kathaṁ kathessāmī’ti paresaṁ dhammo desetabbo;_ > > **(4) ‘I will not teach while secretly hoping to profit.’ …** > _‘na āmisantaro kathaṁ kathessāmī’ti paresaṁ dhammo desetabbo;_ > > **(5) ‘I will teach without hurting myself or others.’** > _‘attānañca parañca anupahacca kathaṁ kathessāmī’ti paresaṁ dhammo desetabbo._ ### Help oneself before helping others ![[MN8 Sallekhasutta#^saving-others]] ## Right Attitudes ### Don't be an Empty Preacher ![[Dhp - 1. Yamakavagga#^talking-dhamma-without-applying-them]] ### Not getting "Caught" ![[SN16.3 Candūpamāsutta#^not-getting-caught]] ### Pure v.s. Impure Intentions ![[SN16.3 Candūpamāsutta#^impure-vs-pure-teachings]] ### Teaching worthy of Instruct — Remain Equanimous, Even when students don't listen or understand ![[MN137 Saḷāyatanavibhaṅgasutta#^teacher-worthy-of-instruction]] ### How to treat students? > [!NOTE] How a preceptor In Ācariyavattakathā, Mahākhandhaka ([pli-tv-kd1](https://suttacentral.net/pli-tv-kd1/en/brahmali)) > After rebuking them, the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks: > _vigarahitvā dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—_ > > “**There should be a ==teacher==**. > _“Anujānāmi, bhikkhave, **==ācariyaṁ==**._ > > **==The teacher should think of his pupil as a son and the pupil his teacher as a father==**. > _Ācariyo, bhikkhave, antevāsikamhi puttacittaṁ upaṭṭhāpessati, antevāsiko ācariyamhi pitucittaṁ upaṭṭhāpessati._ > > In this way they will **respect**, **esteem**, and be **considerate toward each other**, and they will grow and reach greatness on this spiritual path. > > _Evaṁ te **aññamaññaṁ sagāravā sappatissā sabhāgavuttino** viharantā imasmiṁ dhammavinaye vuddhiṁ viruḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjissanti._ ### When is Buddha Inspired to Teach? > [!NOTE] When is the Buddha inspired to teach? — In Puṇṇiyasutta ([AN8.82](https://suttacentral.net/an8.82/en/sujato)) > “Sir, what is the cause, what is the reason why sometimes the Realized One feels inspired to teach, and other times not?” > _“ko nu kho, bhante, hetu ko paccayo yena appekadā tathāgataṁ dhammadesanā paṭibhāti, appekadā na paṭibhātī”ti?_ > > --- > **(1/2)** “Puṇṇiya, when a **mendicant has faith** but **doesn’t approach**, > _“**Saddho** ca, puṇṇiya, bhikkhu hoti, no cupasaṅkamitā;_ > > the Realized One doesn’t feel inspired to teach. > _neva tathāgataṁ dhammadesanā paṭibhāti._ > > But when a mendicant has faith and approaches, > _Yato ca kho, puṇṇiya, bhikkhu saddho ca hoti, upasaṅkamitā ca;_ > > the Realized One feels inspired to teach. > _evaṁ tathāgataṁ dhammadesanā paṭibhāti._ > > **(3)** When a mendicant has faith and approaches, but **doesn’t pay homage** … > _Saddho ca, puṇṇiya, bhikkhu hoti, upasaṅkamitā ca, no ca payirupāsitā …pe…_ > > **(4)** they pay homage, but **don’t ask questions** … > _payirupāsitā ca, no ca paripucchitā …_ > > **(5)** they ask questions, but **don’t actively listen** … > _paripucchitā ca, no ca ohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti …_ > > **(6)** they actively listen, but **don’t remember the teaching they’ve heard** … > _ohitasoto ca dhammaṁ suṇāti, no ca sutvā dhammaṁ dhāreti …_ > > **(7)** they remember the teaching they’ve heard, but **don’t reflect on the meaning of the teachings they’ve remembered** … > _sutvā ca dhammaṁ dhāreti, no ca dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhati …_ > > **(8)** they reflect on the meaning of the teachings they’ve remembered, but, having understood the meaning and the teaching, **they don’t practice accordingly**. > _dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhati, no ca atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno hoti._ > > The Realized One doesn’t feel inspired to teach. > _Neva tāva tathāgataṁ dhammadesanā paṭibhāti._ > > --- > But when a mendicant has faith, approaches, pays homage, asks questions, actively listens, remembers the teachings, reflects on the meaning, and practices accordingly, > _Yato ca kho, puṇṇiya, bhikkhu saddho ca hoti, upasaṅkamitā ca, payirupāsitā ca, paripucchitā ca, ohitasoto ca dhammaṁ suṇāti, sutvā ca dhammaṁ dhāreti, dhātānañca dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhati, atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammappaṭipanno ca hoti;_ > > the Realized One feels inspired to teach. > _evaṁ tathāgataṁ dhammadesanā paṭibhāti._ > > When someone **has these eight qualities**, the Realized One feels **==totally inspired== to teach**.” > _Imehi kho, puṇṇiya, **aṭṭhahi dhammehi samannāgatā** **==ekantapaṭibhānā==** tathāgataṁ **dhammadesanā** hotī”ti._ ### Buddha teaches Equally, yet NOT Equally. > [!tip] 3 Types of Fields — In Khettūpamasutta ([SN42.7](https://suttacentral.net/sn42.7/en/sujato)) > “Sir, doesn’t the Buddha live full of compassion for all living beings?” > _“nanu, bhante, bhagavā sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampī viharatī”ti?_ > > “Yes, chief.” > _“Evaṁ, gāmaṇi, tathāgato sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampī viharatī”ti._ > > “Well, sir, **why exactly do you teach some people ==thoroughly== and others ==less thoroughly==**?” > > _“Atha kiñcarahi, bhante, bhagavā ekaccānaṁ **==sakkaccaṁ==** dhammaṁ deseti, ekaccānaṁ **==no tathā sakkaccaṁ==** dhammaṁ desetī”ti?_ > > --- > “Well then, chief, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like. > _“Tena hi, gāmaṇi, taññevettha paṭipucchissāmi. Yathā te khameyya tathā naṁ byākareyyāsi._ > > What do you think? Suppose a farmer has **==three fields==:** one’s **==good==**, one’s **==average==**, and one’s **==poor==—bad ground of sand and salt**. > > _Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gāmaṇi, idhassu kassakassa gahapatino tīṇi khettāni—ekaṁ khettaṁ **==aggaṁ==**, ekaṁ khettaṁ **==majjhimaṁ==**, ekaṁ khettaṁ **==hīnaṁ==** jaṅgalaṁ ūsaraṁ pāpabhūmi_ > > What do you think? When that farmer wants to plant seeds, where would he plant them first: the good field, the average one, or the poor one?” > > _Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, gāmaṇi, asu kassako gahapati bījāni patiṭṭhāpetukāmo kattha paṭhamaṁ patiṭṭhāpeyya, yaṁ vā aduṁ khettaṁ aggaṁ, yaṁ vā aduṁ khettaṁ majjhimaṁ, yaṁ vā aduṁ khettaṁ hīnaṁ jaṅgalaṁ ūsaraṁ pāpabhūmī”ti?_ > > “Sir, he’d plant them first in the good field, then the average, then he may or may not plant seed in the poor field. > > _..._ > > Why is that? > _Taṁ kissa hetu?_ > > Because at least it can be fodder for the cattle.” > _Antamaso gobhattampi bhavissatī”ti._ > > --- > **(1)** “To me, the **==monks and nuns==** are like the **good field**. > > _“Seyyathāpi, gāmaṇi, yaṁ aduṁ **khettaṁ aggaṁ**; evameva mayhaṁ **==bhikkhubhikkhuniyo==**._ > > ... > **(2)** To me, the **==laymen and laywomen==** are like the **average field**. > > _Seyyathāpi, gāmaṇi, yaṁ aduṁ khettaṁ majjhimaṁ; evameva mayhaṁ **==upāsakaupāsikāyo==**._ > > ... > **(3)** To me, the **ascetics, brahmins, and wanderers of other religions** are like the **poor field**, the bad ground of sand and salt. > > _Seyyathāpi, gāmaṇi, yaṁ aduṁ khettaṁ hīnaṁ jaṅgalaṁ ūsaraṁ pāpabhūmi; evameva mayhaṁ **==aññatitthiyā samaṇabrāhmaṇaparibbājakā==**._ ## How-Tos ### Identifying Good Students (7 Qualities) > [!tip] Also see how to be a good Student in [[DN34 Dasuttarasutta#^8-things-good-student|DN34 Dasuttarasutta]] ![[AN7.68 Dhammaññūsutta#^7-qualities-of-student]] ### "Killing" them if they're unfit for the training > [!NOTE] Guiding Gently and Harshly, Kills those who doesn't follow — In Kesisutta ([AN4.111](https://suttacentral.net/an4.111/en/sujato)) > “Kesi, I guide a person in training sometimes **gently**, sometimes **harshly**, and sometimes **both gently and harshly**. > _“Ahaṁ kho, kesi, purisadammaṁ saṇhenapi vinemi, pharusenapi vinemi, saṇhapharusenapi vinemi._ > > --- > The **gentle way** is this: > _Tatridaṁ, kesi, saṇhasmiṁ—_ > > ‘This is **good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. This is the result of good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. This is life as a god. This is life as a human.**’ > _iti kāyasucaritaṁ iti kāyasucaritassa vipāko, iti vacīsucaritaṁ iti vacīsucaritassa vipāko, iti manosucaritaṁ iti manosucaritassa vipāko, iti devā, iti manussāti._ > > The harsh way is this: > _Tatridaṁ, kesi, pharusasmiṁ—_ > > ‘This is **bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. This is the result of bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. This is life in hell. This is life as an animal. This is life as a ghost.**’ > _iti kāyaduccaritaṁ iti kāyaduccaritassa vipāko, iti vacīduccaritaṁ iti vacīduccaritassa vipāko, iti manoduccaritaṁ iti manoduccaritassa vipāko, iti nirayo, iti tiracchānayoni, iti pettivisayoti._ > > The both gentle and harsh way is this: > _Tatridaṁ, kesi, saṇhapharusasmiṁ—_ > > ‘This is good conduct … this is bad conduct …’” > _iti kāyasucaritaṁ iti kāyasucaritassa vipāko, iti kāyaduccaritaṁ iti kāyaduccaritassa vipāko, iti vacīsucaritaṁ iti vacīsucaritassa vipāko, iti vacīduccaritaṁ iti vacīduccaritassa vipāko, iti manosucaritaṁ iti manosucaritassa vipāko, iti manoduccaritaṁ iti manoduccaritassa vipāko, iti devā, iti manussā, iti nirayo, iti tiracchānayoni, iti pettivisayo”ti._ > > --- > > “Sir, what do you do with a person in training **who doesn’t follow these forms of training**?” > _“Sace te, bhante, purisadammo saṇhena vinayaṁ na upeti, pharusena vinayaṁ na upeti, saṇhapharusena vinayaṁ na upeti, kinti naṁ bhagavā karotī”ti?_ > > “==**In that case, Kesi, I kill them.**==” > _“Sace me, kesi, purisadammo saṇhena vinayaṁ na upeti, pharusena vinayaṁ na upeti, saṇhapharusena vinayaṁ na upeti, hanāmi naṁ, kesī”ti._ > > --- > “Sir, it’s not appropriate for the Buddha to kill living creatures. > _“Na kho, bhante, bhagavato pāṇātipāto kappati._ > > And yet you say > _Atha ca pana bhagavā evamāha:_ > > you kill them.” > _‘hanāmi naṁ, kesī’”ti._ > > --- > “It’s true, Kesi, > _“Saccaṁ, kesi._ > > it’s not appropriate for a Realized One to kill living creatures. > _Na tathāgatassa pāṇātipāto kappati._ > > But when a person in training **doesn’t follow any of these forms of training**, the **Realized One doesn’t think they’re ==worth advising or instructing==**, and neither do their **sensible spiritual companions**. > > _Api ca yo purisadammo saṇhena vinayaṁ na upeti, pharusena vinayaṁ na upeti, saṇhapharusena vinayaṁ na upeti, **na taṁ tathāgato ==vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññati==**, nāpi **viññū sabrahmacārī** vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti._ > > For it is killing in the training of the Noble One > _Vadho heso, kesi, ariyassa vinaye—_ > > when the Realized One doesn’t think they’re worth advising or instructing, and neither do their sensible spiritual companions.” > _yaṁ na tathāgato vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññati, nāpi viññū sabrahmacārī vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññantī”ti._ ### Teaching Step by Step > [!success] How Buddha instructs Step by Step — from Giving -> Noble truth — In Sīhasutta ([AN8.12](https://suttacentral.net/an8.12/en/sujato)) > Then the Buddha taught Sīha step by step, with > _Atha kho bhagavā sīhassa senāpatissa anupubbiṁ kathaṁ kathesi, seyyathidaṁ_ > > a talk on **==giving== (1)**, **ethical conduct (2)**, and **heaven (3)**. He explained the **drawbacks of sensual pleasures (4)**, so sordid and corrupt, and the **benefit of renunciation (5)**. > _dānakathaṁ sīlakathaṁ saggakathaṁ, kāmānaṁ ādīnavaṁ okāraṁ saṅkilesaṁ nekkhamme ānisaṁsaṁ pakāsesi._ > > And when the Buddha knew that Sīha’s mind was ready, pliable, rid of hindrances, elated, and confident he explained the special teaching of the Buddhas: > _Yadā bhagavā aññāsi sīhaṁ senāpatiṁ kallacittaṁ muducittaṁ vinīvaraṇacittaṁ udaggacittaṁ pasannacittaṁ, atha yā buddhānaṁ sāmukkaṁsikā dhammadesanā taṁ pakāsesi—_ > > **suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path (6)**. > _dukkhaṁ samudayaṁ nirodhaṁ maggaṁ._ ### 4 Ways of Answering Questions > [!info] 4 Ways of Answer Questions — In Pañhabyākaraṇasutta ([AN4.42](https://suttacentral.net/an4.42/en/sujato)) #dhamma/teaching/skillful/buddha > “Mendicants, there are these **four ways of answering questions**. > _“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, **pañhabyākaraṇāni**._ > > What four? > _Katamāni cattāri?_ > > 1. There is a question that should be **answered ==definitively==**. > _Atthi, bhikkhave, pañho **ekaṁsabyākaraṇīyo**;_ > > 2. There is a question that should be **answered ==analytically==**. > _atthi, bhikkhave, pañho **vibhajjabyākaraṇīyo**;_ > > 3. There is a question that should be **answered with a ==counter-question==**. > _atthi, bhikkhave, pañho **paṭipucchābyākaraṇīyo**;_ > > 4. There is a question that should be **==set aside==**. > _atthi, bhikkhave, pañho **ṭhapanīyo**._ > > These are the four ways of answering questions. > _Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri pañhabyākaraṇānīti._ > [!tip] Questions that the Buddha does NOT answer: #dhamma/teaching/skillful/buddha > - https://suttacentral.net/sn44-abyakatavagga ## Examples > [!tip] Examples of how Buddha taught: see #dhamma/teaching/skillful/buddha > [!tip] Teachings by Venerable [[Sariputta#^teachings|Sāriputta]] ## Videos - DN28 - How to settle debt of parents and teachers? ([Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs0z1PuTd-I)) - Also on how to see from a teacher's perspective! ## Suttas - Prerequisites - [[AN7.68 Dhammaññūsutta]] - 7 Qualities of a good Dhamma teacher - [[SN16.3 Candūpamāsutta]] - How be a teacher "worthy of approaching families"? - [[MN137 Saḷāyatanavibhaṅgasutta]] - How to be a "Teacher worthy to instruct" - He remains equanimous in all 3 cases — regardless of whether the student accepts or not - AN5.159 Udāyīsutta ([link](https://suttacentral.net/an5.159/en/sujato)) - 5 things to establish before teaching the Dhamma - How Buddha teaches - SN42.7 Khettūpamasutta ([link](https://suttacentral.net/sn42.7/en/sujato)) - Buddha used the simile of 3 types of Fields and Water Jars, to illustrate how he teaches 3 different types of people #simile/buddha - AN4.111 Kesisutta ([link](https://suttacentral.net/an4.111/en/sujato)) - Buddha teaches in gentle and harsh ways using the similes of training horses, and "kills" the person when he's unfit for training :) #simile/buddha - AN8.82 Puṇṇiyasutta ([link](https://suttacentral.net/an8.82/en/sujato)) - When does Buddha want to teach? - [[DN11 Kevaṭṭasutta]] - Buddha on the Drawbacks of Miracles (in teaching the Dhamma) - AN8.12 Sīhasutta ([link](https://suttacentral.net/an8.12/en/sujato)) - How Buddha teaches in 8 "negative" ways #dhamma/teaching/skillful/buddha - [[AN5.26 Vimuttāyatanasutta]] - Sharing Dhamma with others also provides an opportunity for nibbana - (Example) SN22.89 Khemakasutta ([link](https://suttacentral.net/sn22.89/en/sujato)) - Venerable Khemaka reached arahatship when explaining dhamma to other monks ### Being a student of Dhamma ![[Student of Dhamma#Suttas]]