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 is an encouragement that one should make merit, which brings happiness. The word "merit" means goodness that purifies the mind, and the words "which brings happiness" show a quality of merit: it is always a cause of happiness, and there is no merit at all that brings suffering. This saying of the Buddha is therefore both advice and a reminder to hasten to do good and not let time pass in vain.

ขยายความบทตั้งIn the sutta from which this saying comes, it is said that life is being led towards death, the lifespan of human beings is short, and for one who has been led near by old age there is no protection. Seeing this danger in death, one should make merit, which brings happiness. This passage points out that the reason to hasten to make merit is that life is uncertain and time passes every moment; if one keeps putting things off, one may never have the chance to do it again. There are many ways of making merit, such as giving, keeping the precepts, developing meditation, being humble, helping others and listening to the Dhamma, and everyone can do them according to his own strength and opportunity.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑Doing good constantly, again and again until it builds up into a habit, brings happiness, because what we accumulate in life shapes the course of our life. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To 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.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑In 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.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn real life, some people think they will wait until they are old before going to the monastery to make merit, but when they grow old they become ill and have no strength to go anywhere. Some people think they will wait until they are rich before helping others, but life never waits until one is ready. Students can make merit starting today by studying diligently, obeying their parents and teachers, helping with housework and being kind to their friends. All these are merit that brings happiness to both themselves and those around them.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish for happiness should therefore not put off doing good, but should make merit every day as far as they can, because merit gives happiness both in the present and in the future. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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