The Right Way of Teaching Dhamma

AN 5:159 The Right Way of Teaching Dhamma

Translated from the Pali by Nyanaponika Thera and Bhikkhu Bodhi

On one occasion while the Blessed One was dwelling at Kosambi, in Ghosita’s monastery, the Venerable Udayi was seated there in the midst of a large gathering of layfolk and taught the Dhamma to them. The Venerable Ananda, seeing this, went to the Blessed One and reported this to him. (The Blessed One then said:)

“It is not easy, Ananda, to teach the Dhamma to others. To teach the Dhamma to others one should set up in oneself five standards for doing so. What five?

“’I shall give a gradual discourse’: in that way should the Dhamma be taught to others.

“’I shall give a well-reasoned discourse’: in that way should the Dhamma be taught to others.

“’Moved by sympathy I shall speak’: in that way should the Dhamma be taught to others.

“’Not for the sake of worldly advantage I shall speak’: in that way should the Dhamma be taught to others.

“’Without alluding to myself or to others I shall speak’: in that way should the Dhamma be taught to others.

“Truly, Ananda, it is not easy to teach the Dhamma to others. When doing so one should set up in oneself these five standards.”