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 compares evil and conflict to a tree with roots, and patience to a tool that cuts and digs those roots out, so that evil can no longer grow.

ขยายความบทตั้งMuch evil is rooted in the mind's inability to bear its emotions. When angry and unable to bear it, one scolds or harms; when desiring and unable to bear it, one steals or cheats; when provoked and unable to bear it, one retaliates until the matter grows serious. Patience acts like a brake, stopping the mind before emotion turns into action. When the mind can stop, the root of evil is cut and has no chance to branch out into greater wrongdoing.

ขยายความบทตั้งAs for blame and quarrels, they usually arise because neither side is willing to be patient. One speaks harshly, the other answers more harshly still, and the conflict keeps escalating. One who has patience does not add fuel to the fire. When one does not retaliate with emotion, the quarrel cannot continue, and one does nothing that will later be blamed. Patience here is therefore not suppressing one's feelings, but restraining actions born of emotion, and then solving the problem with reason once the mind is calm.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑Patience is the principal cause of the virtues of morality and concentration. All wholesome states can grow and flourish because they rest on patience as their foundation. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in the Royal Chanting Book (Suat Mon Chabap Luang, 5th printing):

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: This saying shows that patience is the foundation for developing every kind of virtue, like firm soil that allows the tree of goodness to grow.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑Patience is a cause of morality because keeping the precepts requires patience with temptation: patience not to retaliate when harmed, patience not to take others' belongings even when there is a chance, patience not to lie even when telling the truth means losing out. Patience is a cause of concentration because training the mind to be steady requires patience with weariness, distraction and boredom. One who lacks patience will give up halfway before seeing any results.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑Saying that all wholesome states grow through patience means that every kind of goodness needs time and consistency to grow. Knowledge must be accumulated little by little, good habits must be practised repeatedly until they become natural, and effort must continue even on discouraging days. Patience is the strength that lets us keep doing good on days when we do not yet see results. The word "alone" in the saying emphasises the importance of patience, but patience must also work together with other virtues such as mindfulness, wisdom and effort.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๒When a person brings patience into real life and can bear anger and hardship, they venerate the Buddha through practice, which is worth more than any offering. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in the Royal Chanting Book (Suat Mon Chabap Luang, 5th printing):

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒To explain: "The Conqueror" (Jina) means the Buddha, who conquered all defilements. This saying shows that patience and forbearance are a direct practice of the Buddha's teaching and a form of homage more valuable than homage with material things.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒In the Ovāda Pātimokkha, a core statement of Buddhist teaching, the Buddha said that patience and forbearance are the highest austerity. One who has patience is therefore said to follow the Teacher's instruction. Moreover, patience is the foundation for practising the other teachings, because giving up evil, doing good and purifying the mind all require patience with hardship and with the temptations of the defilements.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒There are two kinds of homage: āmisa-pūjā, homage with material offerings such as flowers, incense and candles, and paṭipatti-pūjā, homage by practising the teaching. Buddhism praises homage by practice as the highest homage, because it is what the Buddha wished to see realised in people's lives. One who patiently refrains from harming others, even without offering many material things, is said to honour the Buddha with the noblest homage. Material offerings still have value, however, when made with a respectful heart and as a reminder to practise.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn daily life, a driver who is cut off but patiently refrains from chasing or cursing prevents a quarrel on the road. Family members who restrain themselves from harsh words when angry preserve their relationships. A student who is taunted by a classmate but chooses to walk away and consult a teacher, instead of retaliating with force, avoids punishment and does not create more enemies.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish for a life free of evil and conflict should therefore train in patience, stopping the mind before speaking or acting when emotions run high. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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