ABHIDHAMMA IN DAILY LIFE - Abhidhamma.com

Comments - As the foolish man traded a hundred-thousand worth of sandalwood with some stale
molasses. The ignoble preacher teachers the priceless Dhamma in exchange for some petty
material gain.
6.14 a Qualification of a Preacher
A qualified preacher is no ordinary orator. He possesses a clear and forceful voice; he must have
ability to make others understand him clearly. Therefore, a good preacher is hard to find.
6.14 b The Disadvantage Of Improper Intonation
Qualified preacher should be aware of their virtuous kamma of their past lives; when reciting the
Noble Dhamma taught by the Buddha, the preacher must orate with a clear, manly voice. He
must not willfully attempt to make his voice pleasant by means of improper accent, stress,
intonation or elocution.
The Buddha himself pointed out the disadvantages of improper manipulation of speech sounds,
making them sweet, to resemble singing while preaching the Dhamma. They are:
(a) One becomes lustful of one's own voice
(b) Incite the audience with lustful pleasure in the preacher's voice
(c) The preacher is blamed for singing like laypersons
(d) The preacher loses concentration while exerting oneself to produce sweet voice
(e) The next generation of monks will emulate this indecent style.
Nowadays, these disadvantages can be experienced in many occasions. The younger monks are
already following the wrong examples set by the indecent preachers. The pious are seldom
present at discourses conducted by such bogus preachers. Those who attend the lectures only
perfunctorily do not pay attention to the discourses. The educated class, through desirous of
listening to the Dhamma, feels ashamed to be present at the lecture of such vulgar preachers.
It is imperative should have enough decency not to make melodies out of the priceless
Dhamma. It is shameful mode of oration.
6.14 c Simple Ways of Preaching
Dhamma preaching means not only the discourses given to a large audience in a lecture hall.
Simple discussion on the Dhamma among two or three persons also is preaching the dhamma,
provided the preacher does not hope for any gifts or offertories. Giving admonition to devotees,
young and old, teaching academic subjects, handicraft or technology of innocent nature, reading
out the teachings of Buddha, all qualify as preaching . Bhikkhus today should train themselves to
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