Right way to teaching Dhamma

Question

Buddha said that there is a specific way to teach the dhamma. That for example, if I remember correctly, among other things, it's important to mention the cause and effect in one's teaching. I can't find this anywhere, can someone give me a source for this?

Also, what if I teach the dhamma in a wrong way? Is this causing demerit/bad merit/bad karma? What if I mean to teach it in a right way, but it comes out wrong or even causes the listener to have a strong aversion to buddhism/listening to the dhamma?

Answer 1

One should teach the dhamma for the sake of revulsion, of dispassion, of cessation, regarding:

1. decay-and-death,
2. Birth,
3. Existence,
4. Clinging,
5. Craving,
6. Feeling,
7. Contact,
8. The 6 sense-bases,
9. Name-and-form,
10. Consciousness,
11. Decay of Formations,
12. Ignorance

(Nibbidā) Dhamma,kathika Sutta

The above included:

1. the 3 good truths (saddhamma);
2. the 12 links of dependent arising (paṭicca,samuppāda); and
3. the “revulsion” (nibbidā) formula.

See introduction (Nibbidā) Dhamma,kathika Sutta by Piya Tan

Also the teacher should:

1. talk on the progressive teaching
2. teach understanding the context
3. teach the Dharma out of compassion
4. teach the Dharma not for the sake of material gain
5. teach the Dharma without hurting myself or others

(Dhamma,desaka) Udāyī Sutta

what if I teach the dhamma in a wrong way? Is this causing demerit/bad merit/bad karma?

Yes it would.

What if I mean to teach it in a right way, but it comes out wrong or even causes the listener to have a strong aversion to buddhism/listening to the dhamma?

As long as you have been diligent and taught the right way and tries to correct misunderstanding then what can you do? It is not your fault.

Make sure you do not contribute to the disappearance of the Dhamma. See: Sugata Vinaya Sutta, Candûpama Sutta and others which deal with decline of the Dhamma and impure ways to teach.