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 words "the accumulation of merit" mean always doing good, doing it again and again, until goodness builds up and becomes a habit. This saying teaches that such accumulation of merit brings happiness. It is the opposite of the saying that the accumulation of evil brings suffering, and it shows that what we accumulate in life determines whether our life will be happy or unhappy.

ขยายความบทตั้งIn the Dhammapada, the Buddha said that if a person makes merit, he should make it again and again and take delight in it, because the accumulation of merit brings happiness. In another place he said that one should not look down on merit, thinking that it is small and will surely bring no result, because a water jar is filled by drops of water falling one drop at a time; the wise one, accumulating merit little by little, becomes full of merit. Small good deeds done regularly therefore have more power than great good deeds done only occasionally.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑When life is coming to an end, wealth, rank, and loved ones cannot help at all, but the merit one has made becomes a refuge for the mind, allowing one to pass away peacefully. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: The words "the end of life" mean the time when life is about to come to a close, a time that most people fear because they must be parted from everything they love. This saying teaches that merit brings happiness at such a time; in other words, when wealth and possessions, rank and position, and loved ones can no longer help, the merit one has made becomes a refuge for the mind, enabling one to pass away peacefully and without fear.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑When death is near, people's minds often recall what they have done. Those who have done much evil recall that evil with distress and fear the results that will follow, while those who have made much merit recall their own goodness with contentment, having nothing to regret or leave unfinished. This happiness of mind at the final moment is a clearly visible result of merit, and in Buddhism, a clear and bright mind at the end of life is also a cause for going to a good destination.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn real life, a person who gets up early to offer alms food every day, chants before going to sleep and regularly helps others, even if he does only a little each day, will after many years have a clear and bright mind, be happy and be loved by people. A student who reviews his lessons a little every day has firmer knowledge than one who studies hard only on the night before the examination. The accumulation of goodness works in the same way.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish for lasting happiness should therefore do good every day, without choosing between small and great and without waiting for special occasions, because accumulated goodness becomes the foundation of happiness throughout life. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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