Toh 1580For Others′ Welfare, A Ritual for Caring for Disciples
Pāli / Sanskrit:Śiṣyānugrahaṇavidhi
The Scripture: A Ritual for Caring for Disciples
An Exposition According to the Mahayana Tradition — the Northern Tibetan Transmission
Context
The Śiṣyānugrahaṇavidhi (A Method for the Welfare of Disciples) is a precious treatise in the Northern Tibetan tradition, composed during the development of Mahayana Buddhism in India. This work is not a sutra directly spoken by the Buddha, but a detailed treatise on how a teacher (ācārya) should care for and guide a student of Buddhism in a comprehensive way.
In the Mahayana context, especially in the Northern Tibetan transmission, the teacher-disciple relationship is not merely the transmission of knowledge, but a sacred bond grounded in immeasurable compassion and the aspiration to liberate all sentient beings. This scripture reflects the profound karmic connection between great masters and their diligent students, where bodhisattva compassion permeates every action.
Main Content
The title "For Others’ Welfare, A Ritual for Caring for Disciples" clearly states the essential spirit: everything a teacher does is directed toward the peace, happiness, and liberation of the student. The scripture presents a detailed system of methods for guidance, including ways to understand the temperament, capacity, and potential of each individual disciple.
This treatise emphasizes that a true teacher must possess five basic qualities: profundity in the Dharma, immeasurable love for disciples, patience in education, carefulness in transmitting the Dharma, and constant action for the common benefit of students rather than for personal gain. The scripture also describes the necessary skills: the ability to listen, the assessment of each individual’s circumstances, and the adjustment of teaching methods to suit specific conditions.
Another important aspect is the development of the bodhisattva mind within the teacher-disciple relationship. The teacher must not merely expound theories, but must become a living embodiment of those teachings.
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