When Monks or Nuns Use Wrong Speech While Giving Dharma Talks [Quick Q&A]

When monastics tell jokes, use props, make fun, employ sarcasm, or raise their voices while giving Dharma talks.

What does the Dhamma-Vinaya have to say about monastics who employ wrong speech when sharing or discussing the Dhamma? Is this ever OK?

​In this short "dharma bite," I answer this single question.

​Question

When a Buddhist monk or nun uses a bunch of jokes, props, yelling, et cetera in a Dhamma talk, I often feel a sense of discomfort while listening to them and I actually find that it rubs me the wrong way.  Can you share your thoughts on this?

​Answer

These days we have access to many kinds of Buddhist teachers on the internet, be they monastics or laypersons.  In a crowded field of competing voices, some teachers lean toward more exaggerated teaching styles in order to express themselves, set themselves apart, or to build a core audience.

Being energetic and compelling to watch or listen to is one thing, but some teachers choose to employ some rather unorthodox or uncommon behaviours to convey their Dhamma teachings, such as the examples you mentioned in your question (e.g., jokes, props, yelling).  So, is this OK?

Technically speaking, being untruthful in any way whatsoever, which includes the telling of jokes, being sarcastic, speaking tongue-in-cheek, is a breach of the Vinaya, the Buddhist Monastic Code — more details on that below.  Additionally, yelling is wrong speech and using props can be deemed as unskillful; both of which can be classified as further breaches of the Vinaya.
​
Though, some people (mostly non-monastic ones) may argue that these ancient codes of conduct should be applied within reason and that there should be some leniency in regard to the extent to which a monastic should hold-rigid to such rules... however, rules are in-place for Buddhist monks and nuns for good reasons, and your bristling response and discomfort in regard to this eccentric style of dharma talk is inline with the spirit of why there is a rule about this in the Buddhist Monastic Code:
​

From Vinaya, Chapter 8, Pācittiya, 1:

"...untruths meant as jokes, even when meant to amuse or entertain rather than to deceive, would fall under this rule as well..."
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"In addition, the Commentary quotes a few statements that today would be classified as exaggeration or sarcasm, saying that these, too, are forbidden by this rule... this is not to deny the value or potential wisdom of humor; simply to note that a bhikkhu’s sense of humor should be kept in service to his values, and that the most memorable wit is memorable precisely because it tells the straight truth."

​​This isn't meant to suggest that our monastic teachers should be dry and monotonous robots... of course not; personality and enthusiasm within our teachers are desirable and sought-after qualities, but there is a difference between teaching with charisma and being "on-stage."

What I have been taught by my monastic teachers is that, as a general rule, it's best that dharma teachers, and especially monastics, not engage in joke-telling, intentional sarcasm, and (especially) yelling when teaching or discussing the Dhamma. 

Of course that being said... monastics are humans and they represent a vast range of personalities, beliefs, and positions on the Buddhist spectrum of spiritual enlightenment; and, they each bring to their teachings their own style, and in doing so, they attract an audience that is most suited to their particular teaching tenor.

Thank you for asking this question; may you have found my answer to be satisfactory and valuable.

Update: see the comment section below for some direct feedback regarding this post from a colleague, and my response.

With mettā,
​
Anagārika Michael Turner
Awakened Buddhist Teacher
Advanced Applied-Dharma & Sīla Trainer

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