Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

Evaṃ me sutaṃ:

Thus has been heard by me:

Ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā kosambiyaṃ viharati ghositārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambi, in Ghosita‘s park.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā udāyī mahatiyā gihiparisāya parivuto dhammaṃ desento nisinno hoti.

At this time the Venerable Udāyī was sitting, surrounded by a large assembly of householders and teaching Dhamma to them.

Addasā kho āyasmā ānando āyasmantaṃ udāyiṃ mahatiyā gihiparisāya parivutaṃ dhammaṃ desentaṃ nisinnaṃ.

The Venerable Ānanda saw the Venerable Udāyī sitting, surrounded by a large assembly of householders and teaching Dhamma to them.

Disvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi.

Having seen this, the Venerable Ānanda approached the Bhagavā, having approached the Bhagavā he sat down at one side.

Ekamantaṃ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṃ etadavoca:

Having sat at one side the Venerable Ānanda addressed the Bhagavā thus:

“Āyasmā, bhante, udāyī mahatiyā

gihiparisāya parivuto

dhammaṃ desetī”ti.

“Bhante, the Venerable Udāyī is surrounded by a large assembly of householders and teaching Dhamma to them.”

“Na kho, ānanda, sukaraṃ paresaṃ dhammaṃ desetuṃ.

“It is, Ānanda, not easy to teach Dhamma to others.

Paresaṃ, ānanda, dhammaṃ desentena pañca dhamme ajjhattaṃ upaṭṭhāpetvā paresaṃ dhammo desetabbo.

Katame pañca?

Teaching Dhamma to others, Ānanda, requires five qualities to arise within him while he is teaching Dhamma.

What are these five?

‘Anupubbiṃ kathaṃ kathessāmī’ti paresaṃ dhammo desetabbo;

Dhamma should be taught to others with the thought: “I shall say what I want to say in progressive order.”

‘pariyāyadassāvī kathaṃ kathessāmī’ti paresaṃ dhammo desetabbo;

Dhamma should be taught to others with the thought: “I shall say what I want to say with expositions.”

‘anuddayataṃ paṭicca kathaṃ kathessāmī’ti paresaṃ dhammo desetabbo;

Dhamma should be taught to others with the thought: “I shall say what I want to say out of compassion.”

‘na āmisantaro kathaṃ kathessāmī’ti paresaṃ dhammo desetabbo;

Dhamma should be taught to others with the thought: “I shall say what I want to say with no interest for any gain.”

‘attānañca parañca anupahacca kathaṃ kathessāmī’ti paresaṃ dhammo desetabbo.

Dhamma should be taught to others with the thought: “I shall say what I want to say without hurting myself or any others.”

Na kho, ānanda, sukaraṃ paresaṃ dhammaṃ desetuṃ.

It is, Ānanda, not easy to teach Dhamma to others.

Paresaṃ, ānanda, dhammaṃ desentena ime pañca dhamme ajjhattaṃ upaṭṭhāpetvā paresaṃ dhammo desetabbo”ti.

Teaching Dhamma to others, Ānanda, requires these five qualities to arise within him while he is teaching Dhamma.