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DISCOURSE 85
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of his discourses. He must take care to see that the clarification he gives is logical and that it accords with what is stated in Dharmagranthas.
There will be different kinds of listeners in a congregation. Some may be gifted and some may not be. Some, though intelligent, may not have a knowledge of the Dharmashastras. Some listeners who are ill-informed attend discourses with the purpose of picking holes in the utterances of the preacher. Intelligent and thoughtful people will get doubts; and would deșire for clarifications, only out of a thirst for knowledge. Some who are over-intelligent may also start specious arguments. The preacher of Dharma must have the capacity of clearing the doubts of all these kinds of listeners. If he cannot clear their doubts, he cannot inspire the ideals of Dharma in their hearts.
From the Audience : Some preachers are there who become angry and irritated when some questions are posed.
Maharajashri : That happens because either the manner in which the questions are asked may not be satisfactory or the preacher may not know the answers to those questions or the time may not be suitable for such questions. Yes, there are some listeners who put questions to the preacher to test him. They do not have any thirst for knowledge. Their intention is to test the preacher. The preacher must answer even those listeners in such a manner that they realise their mistakes.
7. The preacher of Dharma can clear the doubts of his listeners only if he has studied the scriptures of the other Dharmas in addition to those of his own Dharma. He must have studied carefully the various religious and spiritual ideologies. In the past, controversies, discussions and disputations took place in congregations and royal courts, so the preachers of Dharma had to possess a sound knowledge of all the three ideologies.
Just as a good advocate must have mastered the laws of various countries and must have a thorough knowledge of the
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