Udāyī Sutta
Thus I have heard—
At one time, the Awakened One was staying in Kosambi,
in a well renowned ashram.[1]
At that time, the venerable Udāyī
Was sitting, teaching Dhamma,
surrounded by a large company
of home practitioners, [2]
The Venerable Ānanda saw him.
and approached the Awakened One,
paid loving homage,
sat down in front of him and asked:
‘Bhante, the Venerable Udāyī is sitting,
teaching Dhamma,
surrounded by a large company
of home practitioners,
[The Buddha replied:]
“It is not easy Ānanda
to teach the Dhamma to others.”[3]
One who teaches Dhamma to others,
should only teach,
attending to five guidelines for oneself.[4]
What five?
One should teach Dhamma to others [thinking:]
(1) I will give a gradual talk.
(2) I will give a talk my means of comparisons.
(3) I will deliver a talk rooted in compassion.
(4) I will give a talk with no personal gain in mind.
(5) I will give a talk without hurting myself nor others. [5]
It is not easy to teach Dhamma to others Ānanda.
One who teaches Dhamma to others,
should only teach,
attending to these five guidelines for oneself.
[1] ghositārāme
[2] mahatiyā gihiparisāya parivuto dhammaṃ desento nisinno hoti.
[3] “Na kho, ānanda, sukaraṃ paresaṃ dhammaṃ desetuṃ.
[4] Paresaṃ, ānanda, dhammaṃ desentena pañca dhamme ajjhattaṃ upaṭṭhāpetvā paresaṃ dhammo desetabbo.
[5] ‘Anupubbiṃ kathaṃ kathessāmī, attānañca parañca anupahacca kathaṃ kathessāmī, pariyāyadassāvī kathaṃ kathessāmī, anuddayataṃ paṭicca kathaṃ kathessāmī, na āmisantaro kathaṃ kathessāmī
