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 ๑A patient person who can endure and restrain themselves is truly practising the Teacher's advice, and venerates the Buddha, the conqueror of the defilements, with the highest homage, greater than any material offering. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in the Royal Chanting Book (Suat Mon Chabap Luang, 5th printing):

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To 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 ๑In 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 ๑There 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.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๒When a person can endure displeasure and not respond with anger, they are loved and trusted by those around them, and prosperity in gain, honour, and happiness comes to them. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in the Royal Chanting Book (Suat Mon Chabap Luang, 5th printing):

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒To explain: This saying shows several blessings of patience: virtue in the heart, prosperity in life and being loved by others.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒One who has patience is counted as loving-kind because patience towards the faults of others arises from a heart that wishes them well and does not want them to suffer. Patience and loving-kindness therefore support each other. One who has patience gains and has honour because patience allows work to be accomplished, and a calm temperament earns the trust to be given important responsibilities. One who has patience is always happy because he is not burned by anger and does not have to regret what he did when he lost mindfulness.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒Saying that he is dear to gods and humans shows that the virtue of patience is widely recognised. Everyone likes to be near someone who is calm, pleasant to talk with, and with whom one need not worry about being met with anger or retaliation. Being dear in this way does not come from pleasing others, but from the inner steadiness of the patient person himself.

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.