Precepts Concerning Dhamma Desanā

Precepts concerning Dhamma desanā

There are sixteen disciplinary precepts concerning Dhamma desanā. They are as follows:

• Na chattapāuissa agilānassa Dhamman desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā.

 Should not teach Dhamma to a healthy person carrying an umbrella. It is not an offence to teach a person who has laid aside the umbrella.

• Na dauaāpānissa agilānassa Dhamman desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā.

 Should not teach Dhamma to a healthy person carrying a club. A club here means a six-foot pole. It is not an offence to teach a person who has laid aside the club.

• Na satthapānissa agilānassa Dhamman desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā.

 Should not teach Dhamma to a healthy person with a sword in hand. It is not an offence to teach a person who is wearing a sword.

• Na āyudhapānissa agilānassa Dhamman desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā.

 Should not teach Dhamma to a healthy person carrying arms such as bows, arrows and guns in hand. It is not an offence to teach a person who is wearing arms, but not carrying them in hand.

• Na pādukārūShassa agilānassa Dhamman desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā.

 Should not teach Dhamma to a healthy person wearing slippers. Pāduka are a kind of wooden clogs with a nail with a head to be held between toes. Muslims use them indoors.

• Na upahanārūShassa agilānassa Dhamman desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā.

 Should not teach Dhamma to a healthy person wearing footwear. The precept is regarding footwear other than pāduka. It is not an offence to teach Dhamma targeting only the unshod, among a group where some are wearing footwear and the others are not.

• Na yānagatassa agilānassa Dhamman desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā.

 Should not teach Dhamma to a healthy person travelling in a vehicle. It is not an offence if the teacher is also in the vehicle.

• Na sayanagatassa agilānassa Dhamman desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā.

 Should not teach Dhamma to a healthy person lying down, even on the floor.

• Na pallatthikāya nisinnassa agilānassa Dhamman desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā.

 Should not teach Dhamma to a healthy person squatting with hands folded.

• Na veIhitasīsassa agilānassa Dhamman desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā.

 Commentaries says, “yathākesanto na dissati evam veihitasīsassa”. Should not teach Dhamma to a healthy person wearing a turban covering the head hair. It is not an offence to teach Dhamma to a person wearing a turban only for decorative purposes and not covering all the hair, but not as a head covering.

• Na oguuIhitasīsassa agilānassa Dhamman desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā.

 Should not teach Dhamma to a healthy person covering the head with a wrap.

• Na chamāya nisīditvā āsane nisinnassa agilānassa Dhamman desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā

 One should not sit on the floor and teach Dhamma to a healthy person seated on a seat.

• Na nīce āsane nisīditvā ucce āsane nisinnassa agilānassa Dhamman desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā.

 One should not sit on a low seat and teach Dhamma to a healthy person sitting on a higher seat.

• Na Ihīto nisinnassa agilānassa Dhamman desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā.

 One should not stand and teach Dhamma to person who is seated.

• Na pacchato gacchanto purato gacchantassa agilānassa Dhamman desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā.

 One should not teach Dhamma from behind to a person walking in front.

• Na uppathena gacchanto pathena gacchantassa agilānassa Dhammam desissāmīti sikkhā karauīyā.

 One should not teach Dhamma to a healthy person waking on a path while one is walking beside it.