By Ven. Professor Dhammavihari Thera
Sangha Nayaka (Honoris Causa)
Amarapura Dharmarakshita Sect, Sri Lanka

1.    He must, first of all, make sure that either he can himself provide the information that a student needs on the subject, or he can help the student to gather it himself with the assistance of the teacher.

2.    Without any undue delay, the teacher must win the trust of his students, both about his competence in his field of study and his willingness to serve the students. This is a solid basis for a life-long foundation.

3.    A good teacher-pupil relationship rests not only on academic keenness and soundness of both teacher and pupil but also on the level of their emotional stability - of being free from stress and strain on account of each other.

4.    A teacher with vision should start by getting a correct assessment of the student ability, before commencing the delivery of goods. Otherwise, they will never get correctly loaded. Even afer loading, unloading will be equally difficult. Failure in this area would result in a great deal of bitterness and frustration.

5.    A good teacher must also remember that he is only one among many others whom the student is bound to meet. Self-examination and self-correction on the part of the teacher is a must for all good teachers.

6.    The harmonious brotherhood of the teacher community should always be maintained. That stands in the face of the student as an unassailable source of inspiration and guidance. As a teacher, one should never explore partisan interests and loyalties.