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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 19

I realized that being dragged down or held back by it Adapted from Raising Resilience: The Wisdom and
would be to no one’s benefit . . . not mine or anybody Science of Happy Families and Thriving Children by
else’s. So I go forward and do the best I can.” We’re not Christopher Willard, PsyD. Copyright © 2017 by
trying to get rid of pain—ours or our children’s. We can Christopher Willard. Published by Sounds True in October
be saddened by pain, by our regrets and mistakes, and 2017 EH
yet keep moving forward. This, too, is the wisdom of
equanimity.

The Idea of

Dhammadāna

By Venerable Dr Bhikkhu Anālayo

Introduction Efficacy in Teaching the
Bhikkhu Anālayo is a bhikkhu Dhamma
A very meritorious and
(Buddhist monk), scholar, praiseworthy way of disseminating The Mahāvagga (I.11) of
and meditation teacher. He the Dhamma takes the form of book the Vinaya reports the Buddha
was born in Germany in 1962 publications that are strictly for encouraging his first arahant
and went forth in 1995 in free distribution. The indubitably disciples to set out to spread the
Sri Lanka. He is best known wholesome intentions that underpin Dhamma, asking them:
for his comparative studies such activities can at times be
of early Buddhist texts as associated with the assumption that Bhikkhus, teach the Dhamma; let not
preserved by the various early to have one’s writings appear with two [of you] go by one way.
Buddhist traditions. a commercial Buddhist publisher
somehow reflects a lack of ethical The injunction to go each by a
integrity and an insufficient respect different way suggests a concern
for the Buddha’s teaching. with efficacy in teaching, as in this
way the potential of spreading the
The viability of such assessments Dhamma becomes augmented.
can best be explored in the light of
relevant Pāli passages regarding A concern with efficiently spreading
three related topics: the Dhamma is also clearly a
• The importance given to efficacy motivation when opting to publish
when spreading the Dhamma. for free distribution, based on the
• A precedent set by the Buddha apprehension that some potential
when teaching King Pasenadi. readers may not be able to afford
• The significance of the to buy a book, together with the
term dhammadāna in the Pāli notion that such way of publication
discourses and commentaries. is inherently meritorious.