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

อธิบายบทตั้งTo explain: "What is proper" means conduct and virtues suited to one's position and to what one is going to teach, while "not tarnished" means not being blamed, not losing one's reputation and not being troubled at heart. This saying teaches the right order: improve oneself first, then teach others.

ขยายความบทตั้งIn the Dhammapada, this saying concerns Upananda, who could preach beautifully on having few wishes and contentment, yet was himself greedy for requisites. When the truth came to light, he was criticised. The Buddha then taught that the wise should first establish themselves in what is proper. This story shows that skill in speaking or teaching, if not supported by conduct, brings tarnish upon the teacher himself.

ขยายความบทตั้งThis saying is close to the one that teaches "As one instructs others, so should one act oneself," but it emphasises the result for the teacher: the tarnish or the clear conscience of oneself. One who first establishes himself in goodness can speak with confidence when teaching others, without fearing that listeners will question his own conduct, and his teaching carries weight and credibility.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑One who knows how to set priorities does not neglect their own good, namely developing knowledge, goodness, and freedom from suffering, merely because they are so taken up with other matters that they harm themselves. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: "Neglect" here means letting something go to waste or abandoning it, while "one's own benefit" means the true benefit of life: developing oneself in knowledge, goodness and freedom from suffering. This saying teaches us to set priorities and not to abandon our main duty for other matters until we ourselves are harmed.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑In the Dhammapada, this saying concerns the Elder Attadattha. When the Buddha announced that he would pass into final Nibbāna, many monks gathered around him, but the Elder resolved to hasten his practice so as to attain the fruit first. The Buddha praised him, saying that practising according to the Dhamma is the true way of honouring the Teacher. This story shows that the "benefit of oneself" mentioned in the saying does not mean material gain or selfishness, but fulfilling one's own important duty.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑Nevertheless, this saying does not teach us to neglect helping others. Buddhism teaches both one's own benefit and the benefit of others, but a person who has not yet developed himself can help others only to a limited extent, just as someone who cannot swim will find it hard to rescue a drowning person. Developing oneself is therefore the foundation for helping others effectively and sustainably.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๒Only when a person has trained themselves well is it fitting for them to go on to train others, unlike one who teaches others merely with words while still unable to follow that teaching themselves. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒To explain: This saying teaches that anyone who would teach others should first practise what he teaches, because teaching carries weight when the teacher truly lives it, and it reminds us that training oneself is harder than telling others what to do.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒In the Dhammapada, this saying concerns the Elder Padhānikatissa. He urged the young monks to strive diligently, yet he himself slept at the time when he should have been practising. As a result, those monks did not get enough rest and made no progress in their practice. The Buddha then taught that a teacher should first make himself able to do what he teaches. This story shows that teaching without practising not only fails to bear fruit but may even cause others harm.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒Training oneself is difficult because we easily see the faults of others but have difficulty seeing our own, and the habits of the mind resist change. Telling others to give up a bad habit takes only words, but giving up that habit oneself requires patience, mindfulness and continuous effort. One who has trained himself understands how difficult change is, and can guide others with empathy and good results.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn daily life, someone campaigning for others to reduce their use of plastic should first reduce his own. Someone who teaches thrift should not let others see him spending extravagantly. A student who is class monitor and must see that classmates keep the room clean should begin by picking up the rubbish around his own desk. When one can do this, one's admonitions to others will be accepted.

สรุปTo conclude: Those whose duty is to guide or instruct others should therefore always examine themselves and first establish themselves in the goodness they teach. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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