The Benefit of Teaching

When a spiritual genius develops a sharp and steady intellect,
when he teaches without fatigue,
when his heart is warm and loving,
when his reputation is clean,
and when he is skilled in methods that meet beings exactly where they stand,
he becomes an extraordinary expositor of truth—
a genuine philosopher in the highest sense.

Such a teacher shines among people like the sun rising over a darkened land.
His presence inspires confidence;
his words illuminate what was confused;
his guidance awakens what lay dormant.
The brilliance is not personal glory—
it is the natural radiance of wisdom functioning for the benefit of the world.

This excellence has five foundations:

He teaches without confusion,
his meaning clear and steady.

He teaches repeatedly,
understanding that beings require hearing the truth from many angles
before certainty takes root.

He teaches without exploitation,
never seeking admiration, wealth, or control over others.

He teaches with acceptable expression,
speaking in ways that minds can receive without resistance.

And he teaches in attunement to the disciples,
adjusting tone, depth, and method
so each listener hears exactly what will lead them forward.

When these five converge,
the teaching becomes luminous,
the teacher becomes a sun,
and the world becomes capable of awakening through his words.