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

อธิบายบทตั้งTo explain: The word "wise one" means one who has wisdom and knows what is beneficial and what is not beneficial. "One who gives happiness" means one who makes others happy, whether by giving things, by helping, or by not harming them. This saying teaches that a person of wisdom who gives happiness to others receives happiness in return, in accordance with the principle that whatever cause one makes, one receives a corresponding result.

ขยายความบทตั้งThe reason the words "the wise one who gives" are used is that giving true happiness requires wisdom. The giver must know that the happiness he gives is wholesome happiness, not happiness that leads to decline. For example, inviting friends to go out carousing and loitering, even though the friends enjoy it, is not a right way of giving happiness. Giving happiness with wisdom means making others feel at ease, safe and able to prosper. When one gives in this way, the giver receives happiness at the very moment of giving, namely contentment, and receives happiness later on, namely the love, respect and help of others.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑The fruit of giving does not end with a single act. One who gives the best receives the best back again and again as goodness for themselves. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Aṅguttara Nikāya, Pañcakanipāta:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: The words "what is foremost" mean what is best, the highest of all things of the same kind. This saying teaches that one who gives what is foremost receives what is foremost in return again. The word "again" shows that the result of giving does not end with a single act of giving, but comes back as goodness to the giver again and again.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑According to the principles of Buddhism, the most excellent thing to which one should reverently pay homage is the Triple Gem, namely the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saṅgha. One who makes offerings with faith in the Triple Gem is said to have given to what is foremost. In another sense, giving what is foremost also means choosing to give the best things one has, not second-rate things or leftovers. When the giver's mind aims at excellence in this way, the result of the giving is correspondingly excellent, in the form of happiness of mind, a good reputation and progress in the future.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn real life, doctors and nurses who care for patients with loving-kindness and relieve them of pain are happy at heart to have saved people's lives and receive people's respect. Children who study diligently and behave well, putting their parents' minds at ease, receive their parents' love and trust. A student who comforts a friend who is sad will also have friends to comfort him on the day he himself is suffering.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish for happiness should therefore not seek happiness by harming others, but should give happiness to those around them with wisdom, because the happiness we give out always returns to us. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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