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

อธิบายบทตั้งTo explain: This saying teaches that one should avoid all evils. The word "avoid" means keeping away, not going near and not doing. As for "all evils", it means every kind of evil, whether small or great, by body, speech or mind. This saying of the Buddha is a straightforward teaching that one who loves oneself and wishes for happiness should carefully avoid every kind of evil.

ขยายความบทตั้งIn the Dhammapada, the Buddha made a comparison: just as a merchant with much wealth but few companions avoids a dangerous road, and just as one who loves life avoids poison, so one should avoid all evils. A merchant who knows that a road has robbers does not travel on it, because he knows he may lose both his wealth and his life. One who knows that something is poison does not touch it, because he knows it may be fatal. Evil is like a road with robbers and like poison; one who sees this clearly keeps far away from it from the start, without waiting until he has fallen into danger.

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.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn real life, avoiding evil begins with avoiding what leads to evil, such as not going into improper places where there is gambling or drugs, not associating with people who invite one down the path of decline, and not watching media that incite violence. A student who knows that he may be invited to copy answers in an examination should prepare by studying well and sit away from friends who may invite him to do wrong. Such avoidance is prevention before evil arises.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish for safety in life should therefore see evil as poison and always carefully keep far away from it. Prevention is easier than correction after the damage has been done. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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