#mastodharma a very short one, but just like a koan it contains a lot of the dharma. the Buddha compares his appearance in the world as like a rain storm that drenches the soil, and from that rain millions of seeds grow that are all different kinds of medicinal herbs.

each of these medical herbs is a prescription (Thay here):

"Whether a Dharma talk succeeds or fails does not depend on the teacher’s eloquence or on whether his or her knowledge of the Dharma is profound or superficial. The transformative power of a teaching depends entirely on the teacher’s understanding and clear perception of the psychological state and situation of those who will receive it. A Dharma talk must always be appropriate in two ways: it must accord perfectly with the spirit of the Dharma, and it must also respond perfectly to the situation in which it is given. If it only corresponds perfectly with the teachings but does not meet the needs of the listeners, it’s not a good Dharma talk, it’s not appropriate."

Thich Nhat Hanh analogizes the appropriateness of a medicine to the appropriateness of dharma. He says a good doctor provides a medicine that matches the condition; there is no one medicine for all conditions, even if all patients are trying to reach the same ideal of good health.

This insight is something I try to reflect on: Our words, even if we think of them as wise and correct, are nothing if they are not right for the person receiving them. I have been guilty of saying things unskillfully that, though they may have been the truth, they caused harm.