Using Excerpts of Selected Buddhist Texts

Nettippakaraṇaṁ

The underappreciated Nettippakaraṇaṁ, a non-canonical Buddhist text in the majority of Buddhist societies (thus less likely to be read) suggests to readers that the phrasing and meanings of the Buddha’s dispensation should be known, as threads – to better instruct one’s pupils/disciples; and thereby becomes most useful for monks conducting missionary activities.  Despite the advantages of the intentionally-designed text, why is its material seldom employed, or rarely applied?  The Nettippakaraṇaṁ, designed for teachers, suggests for teachers to know the temperaments and abilities of their disciples/students.  This would then illuminate that the text should be immediately valued and utilized more often – to distinguish, develop, and purify personality-types for students. 

Attention, therefore, is thus drawn towards the Puggalapaññatti – an Abhidhamma text that illustrates different personality-characteristics; additional material concerning temperaments can be found in the Vimuttimagga and Visuddhimagga, respectively.  Any teacher with this knowledge of temperaments and abilities can better instruct the newer generations of Buddhist - knowing these would greatly benefit Buddhists.

George D. Bond

George D. Bond writes: “Understanding the way in which the …terms apply to the different types of persons, the interpreter would be able to make his preaching of the Dhamma more relevant to his contemporary audience.”

This idea runs parallel to the Buddha’s suggestion for comprehending the student’s main personality-characteristic to ensure that a proper meditation technique is prescribed for the student.  If attention is now drawn towards teaching-methodology, Dr. Justin McDaniel has 

because knowing your audience is important:

Nissaya:

This “supporting-resource” is written for sermon preparations and as a guide to understand source texts.  Narrative nissaya were for the monastic student with specific triggers to recollect general topics.  Although nissaya lean heavily on source texts, only a few phrases are recollected allowing for creative interpretations.  Nissaya, as defined by PTS Dictionary, means: leaning on, or nearby.

Namasadda:

This is a more literal word for word translations from short textual passages, reserved for private monastic lessons, to learn about the function and origin of the syllables – and analyzed against the textual demonstration, perhaps like a glossary.  An aspect of the term, derived from the PTS Dictionary, suggests that namasadda as a term, recollects audible-veneration (sadda = sound).

Vohara: 

This is an idiomatic, common speech (oratory), or mechanical technique that lift words skillfully and perhaps melodically (due to the cadence or pattern to the works) creatively, for oral presentations suited to audience levels.  Audiences are mainly serious students sitting in public sermons and cite long passages with longer explanations taken from commentaries or other sources.  As defined by PTS Dictionary, vohara means: common use or popular logic.