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

อธิบายบทตั้งTo explain: "Evil" means wrongdoing, and "one who does not do it" means one who does not commit that wrongdoing, whether by doing it himself, ordering others to do it or deliberately helping others to do wrong. This saying teaches that a person does not have evil merely because he is near someone who does wrong or because he is accused of wrongdoing; we must look at what he actually intended and actually did.

ขยายความบทตั้งIn the Dhammapada, the Buddha compared one who does no evil to a palm without a wound, through which poison cannot seep. This simile helps us understand that when a person has no evil intention and has not done the wrong, evil does not arise in him merely because he is near, or connected with, the wrongdoer. The image of poison is a comparison for teaching the Dhamma; it should not be taken as a reason to try touching real poison.

ขยายความบทตั้งNevertheless, one who does no wrong may still suffer because of others, for example by being misunderstood or falsely accused. But being accused does not make him a wrongdoer. If he has not done it, he should stay mindful, explain the truth and seek help from those concerned, without responding by doing wrong himself.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑True happiness does not have to come from owning things but arises from not doing evil. One who refrains from evil in body, speech, and mind is at ease and has nothing to fear. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: This saying teaches that not doing evil brings happiness. The words "not doing evil" mean abstaining from all evil, by body, by speech and by mind. "Happiness" here means ease of body and ease of mind, a sense of freedom, with nothing to fear or worry about. This saying of the Buddha shows that happiness does not necessarily come from possessing things, but can arise from not doing what is bad.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑The happiness that arises from not doing evil is a deep and stable happiness. One who does not do evil sleeps soundly, does not have to fear that his wrongdoing will be revealed, does not have to be suspicious of others, and does not have to lie to cover up wrongdoing, so his mind is light and at ease. On the contrary, one who does evil, even if he obtains what he wants, has a mind burning with fear, shame and remorse. In the Dhammapada, this saying of the Buddha appears together with the words: virtue brings happiness until old age, firmly established faith brings happiness, and the attainment of wisdom brings happiness. This shows that not doing evil is the foundation of all happiness.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตFor example, a student who sees a friend copying in an exam, but neither copies nor passes answers, has not taken part in that wrongdoing. Someone who works alongside corrupt people, but does not join in the fraud, does not help cover it up and does not accept any benefit from it, is not a partner in the corruption merely because he works in the same place. Such examples teach us to distinguish between being near a wrongdoer and joining in the wrong.

สรุปTo conclude: We should therefore watch our own thoughts, words and actions, and not do evil because friends urge us or because we want some advantage. Even if people around us do wrong, we can still choose to do what is right. Keeping our honesty and not joining in wrongdoing lets us rest assured that we have not created wrongdoing ourselves. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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