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 teaches us to choose happiness with wisdom. Sometimes a better happiness requires giving up certain pleasures or comforts. The wise therefore do not look only at what pleases them at the moment, but consider what will bring greater benefit and peace.

ขยายความบทตั้ง"A small happiness" means happiness that is slight or limited, such as the enjoyment of eating, going out or spending as one likes. "A great happiness" means a greater happiness, which the commentary explains as referring to the happiness of Nibbāna, that is, the happiness of extinguishing the defilements and being freed from suffering. One who aims at such happiness is therefore willing to give up attachment to small pleasures and trains oneself through giving, keeping the precepts and developing meditation.

ขยายความบทตั้งApplying this lesson in daily life shows us that we cannot indulge ourselves in everything and still expect good things always to come about. If we want knowledge, we must be willing to take time from fun to study; if we want money for times of need, we must cut back on buying unnecessary things; if we want a peaceful mind, we must train ourselves to let go of the desire to get the better of others. Giving something up is therefore not only a loss, but a way of opening the path for something more valuable to arise.

ขยายความบทตั้งHowever, giving up a small happiness must be accompanied by wisdom; it does not mean forcing oneself until one falls ill or neglecting duties that should be done. Adequate rest and suitable enjoyment still have their place in life. What matters is knowing moderation and considering whether the pleasure one is attached to obstructs goodness or a more important benefit. If one sees clearly that life will be better by reducing it, one should train the mind to dare to reduce, dare to give up and dare to let go.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑The worth of a life does not lie in its length. A single day in the life of one who is wise and contemplates the Dhamma is better than a hundred years of one with poor wisdom. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: This saying teaches that the value of life is not measured by its length but by its quality, that is, by having wisdom and a steady mind.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑"Unconcentrated" means a mind that is scattered, shaken by emotions and without concentration, while "meditative" means using a calm, steady mind to contemplate things as they really are. One who lives a hundred years without wisdom and with a scattered mind may spend his whole life in delusion and suffering without understanding life, while a wise person who has seen the truth of life, even for a single day, has gained something more valuable.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑This statement is a comparison to emphasise the value of wisdom and concentration; it does not mean that a long life has no value, nor does it encourage wishing for a short life. On the contrary, one who understands this saying sees every day of life as a precious opportunity to develop wisdom and train the mind, and so should not let it pass in vain.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๒When a person has wisdom as their guide, other good qualities easily follow, because wisdom shows what should be kept and what should be given up. That is why the wise honour wisdom above all other qualities. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Jātaka, Cattālīsanipāta:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒To 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 ๒Just 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 ๒Saying 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 ๒The 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.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตA student who cuts down on gaming time and spends it reading has the chance to understand the lessons better. Someone who cuts back on extravagant spending has money left for what is necessary. Someone who gives up some of his time to care for his parents or help those in difficulty practises gratitude and kindness. Even someone who is angry, if he is willing to give up the satisfaction of saying something hurtful, helps preserve goodwill and reduces the causes of enmity. All of these are training in choosing a benefit greater than one's own momentary satisfaction.

สรุปTo conclude: We should therefore always ask ourselves whether what we are choosing gives only enjoyment or also helps make life better. When we see the greater benefit, we should train ourselves to give up with understanding and not let attachment to comfort hold back our doing of good. Being able to let go little by little trains the mind to be ready to move towards a more refined peace and happiness. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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