Origin: Madh Yamagama Sutra
Chapter 1, 7 Steps of Excellent Dharma Teaching
Once upon a time at the Jeta Grove of Anāthapi??ika's park in Ukka??ha. Buddha lectured to the monks, " If a monk is able to complete 7 steps of Dharma, he will reach peace and joy like all the saints. What are those 7 steps? They are understanding Dharma, knowing its meaning, knowing the timing, knowing when to stop, understanding oneself, understanding others, and the last but not least, realizing how to be outstanding.
What does it mean by knowing Dharma? Monks should be able to judge if a teaching is Dharma or non-Dharma; monks should recite, take notes, understand sonnets in scriptures, know causes and effects, write, know the origin of his own teaching, eloquent in explanations, understand the situation when the right moment preaching has arrived, capable of expanding his clarifications through metaphors and examples. Such are called monks understanding Dharma.
What does it mean by monks knowing the meaning of Dharma? It means to interpret with loyalty to the actual meanings.
What does it mean when saying one fails to understand the meanings of Dharma? It means one fails to understand the exact meanings carried by the words.
What does it mean by monks knowing the timing? It means one knows when to be humble, when to be authoritative, and when to apply emptiness to all thoughts.
What does it mean by monks knowing when to stop? It means in every moment of life including drinking 、eating 、going out 、staying in 、sitting up or sitting down 、speaking or remaining silent 、even using the toilet 、sleeping、and practicing, monks should know moderation better.
What does it mean by monks knowing himself? In means monks should be confident in themselves, knowing very well what they believe in 、what disciplines they abide by 、what they have learned 、what they can give 、that they have wisdom and they can preach according to Agama sutra and their own experiences.
What does it mean by monks understanding the general public? Monks ought to know what group of people they are facing. Are they practitioners, laymen, or their peers? In view of different category of audience, monks ought to be able to choose the right timing and know when to stop. Because if monks know themselves, they know the audience, they can make the right choice at the right moment accordingly.
How do monks read people?
There are two kinds of people in the world; one believes in Buddha, and one doesn't. The former is better than the latter.
There are two kinds of people who believe in Buddha: one who visits the Master , one doesn't. The former is better than the latter.
There are two kinds of people who visit the master : one who shows respect in body, speech and mind, one doesn't. The former is better than the latter.
There are two kinds of people who show respect in body and speech: one who seeks Dharma, one doesn't. The former is better than the latter.
There are two kinds of people who seek Dharma: one who pays attention , one doesn't. The former is better than the latter.
There are two kinds of people who pay attention to the teaching: one who remembers by heart , one doesn't. The former is better than the latter.
There are two kinds of people who remember Dharma by heart: one who contemplates the meanings, one doesn't. The former is better than the latter.
Knowing Dharma, understanding its meaning, reflecting on relative teachings, putting Dharma into action....there are two kinds of people who put Dharma into action: one to benefit oneself and the other to benefit others.
Should monks be able to combine both intentions in benefiting oneself as well as others, such monks are outstanding. For they seek Dharma on behalf of everyone and aim to benefit everyone. Such monks who put the welfare of all sentient beings on top of everything else is the highest. They are grand. They are awesome . They're fantastic . They are super . They are the best. That is why they are outstanding.
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