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

อธิบายบทตั้งTo explain: "A person of little learning" means one who does not care to listen, read or seek knowledge and Dhamma. This saying compares such a person to an ox that grows older every day: the body grows, but understanding of life does not increase with age.

ขยายความบทตั้งThe comparison with an old ox means that living a long time does not always make a person wise. An ox eats and sleeps by nature, so its body grows and ages with time. A human being who simply lets the days pass without learning likewise gains only years and body weight, but not understanding of reason, goodness and how to solve life's problems. Old age without wisdom therefore does not add value to life.

ขยายความบทตั้งIn Buddhism, listening or learning is the first path to wisdom. Wisdom that arises from listening and reading is called sutamayā paññā. When one reflects on what one has heard, cintāmayā paññā arises, and when one puts it into practice until one sees it for oneself, bhāvanāmayā paññā arises. One of little learning is thus like someone who has closed the first door to developing wisdom. However, this saying does not look down on those who had few educational opportunities; it reminds everyone to keep learning throughout life according to the opportunities they have.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑Wisdom is the most excellent of all qualities, like the moon that outshines all the stars. Virtue, glory, and the qualities of the good always follow the one who has wisdom. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Jātaka, Cattālīsanipāta:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: This saying praises wisdom as the light that guides life, helping us know what should be done, what should be avoided, and what, though pleasing today, may bring trouble in days to come.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑Just as at night the moon shines brightly and stands out among the stars, wisdom likewise lights the way of life. When we have wisdom, we do not look only at what we want to get, but also consider whether it is gained rightly; we do not look only at whether our words will give us satisfaction, but also think about whether they will hurt anyone. Wisdom therefore helps us choose the good path, even if at times that path requires patience and sacrifice.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑Saying that virtue, glory and the Dhamma of the good follow the one who is wise means that when one knows how to consider causes and reasons, one sees the value of good conduct. The wise see that harming others brings trouble, and so they resolve to keep the precepts; they see the value of honesty, kindness and gratitude, and so they take up the Dhamma of good people and put it into practice. As for glory, that is, dignity or prosperity, it is supported by knowing how to live one's life appropriately. Wisdom thus helps all the virtues bear fruit in real life.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑The wisdom this saying praises is not cleverness in deceiving or taking advantage of others. Someone who can devise subtle ways to cheat may be quick-witted, but still lacks awareness of the harm of such actions. The wise must therefore know how to weigh both benefit and rightness, must not trade honesty for merely temporary gain, and must not use their abilities to cause anyone suffering.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๒When a person has only wealth but lacks wisdom, that wealth can easily be used up, but with wisdom, even if they lose their wealth, they can still get back on their feet and carry on with life. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Theragāthā:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒To explain: This saying compares the value of wisdom with that of wealth and shows that wisdom is more secure, because it is the tool for acquiring wealth, preserving it and living well in every situation.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒The wise can live even when their wealth is gone because they know how to find a way out, how to adapt, how to start again and how to use their knowledge and ability to generate income anew. Those without wisdom, however much wealth they have, may spend it without understanding its value, be easily deceived, or invest wrongly until their wealth is gone, and once it is gone they do not know how to go on living. "Cannot live" here means cannot live securely and with quality.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒This saying does not teach that wealth is unimportant. Wealth is a condition that makes life more comfortable and enables one to do more good. But wealth is external and can be lost for many reasons, whereas wisdom is internal and stays with us. Those who invest in developing their wisdom are like people building a secure guarantee for their lives.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn daily life, some adults work for decades without ever learning anything new, and when the world changes they cannot adapt. But elderly people who still read, listen to the Dhamma and open their minds to the younger generation keep a clear mind and become a spiritual refuge for their children and grandchildren. A student who studies diligently and reads beyond the lessons gains broad knowledge and grows in quality.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who do not wish to grow old meaninglessly should therefore always love listening, reading and learning, and then reflect on and practise what they have learned. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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