อารัมภบทI shall now explain and expand upon the meaning of the Dhamma theme written above, as a guide for study and practice.

อธิบายบทตั้งTo explain: The word "fools" in this saying does not mean only unruly people, but people of poor wisdom who cannot see the value of goodness and look at the world selfishly. Such people do not praise giving, that is, they do not see giving as something good and noble. They often regard giving as a waste of things, as the foolishness of the giver, or sometimes they even look down on those who make merit by giving as doing it to show off.

ขยายความบทตั้งThe reason fools do not praise giving is that they see only what the eyes can see, that is, they see that their wealth decreases, but they cannot see what is gained from giving, such as contentment, friendship, respect, and the merit that follows one. In the Dhammapada there is a saying of the Buddha: the stingy do not go to the heavenly world, fools do not praise giving, but the wise rejoice in giving, and through that very rejoicing they are happy in the world beyond. This shows that even merely rejoicing in the giving of others is merit, but fools shut themselves off from that opportunity.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑The fruit of giving does not depend only on the amount or the price of the gift but on the mind of the giver. Even a small gift, given with a mind full of faith, bears great fruit. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Vimānavatthu:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: This saying teaches that the fruit of giving does not depend only on the quantity or the price of what is given, but depends above all on the mind of the giver. The words "the mind is full of faith" mean a mind that is clear with faith, that believes in merit and is glad to give. As for "offering" (dakkhiṇā), it means a gift given with respect, or given to honour virtue. When the giver's mind is full of faith, that gift cannot be called a small gift at all.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑The reason for this is that merit arises in the mind. Giving that is accompanied by good intention at all three times, that is, being glad before giving, having a clear mind while giving, and being delighted without regret after giving, bears great fruit. Conversely, when a great deal is given reluctantly, given out of a wish to look good, or regretted afterwards, the mind is defiled, and the fruit of that gift diminishes in accordance with the defilement of the mind. Therefore a poor person who has faith can make merit no less than a rich person, provided he gives with a pure mind.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn daily life, when one sees a friend taking food to distribute to homeless people, a person with a foolish mind may mock him, saying that it does not help anything, or accuse him of doing it to take photos to post on social media. But a person of wisdom is glad for him, speaks in praise, and may join in helping according to his means. When there is a merit-making event at school or in the community, those who keep criticising the merit-making of others while they themselves have never given anything are the ones who do not know the value of giving, according to this saying of the Buddha.

สรุปTo conclude: We should not become fools who obstruct or look down on giving, but should be wise people who rejoice in giving, both our own and that of others, because giving is the foundation of goodness in society. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

ปิดท้ายThus has the meaning been explained, as set forth above.