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 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.

ขยายความบทตั้งIn 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.

ขยายความบทตั้งThere 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 ๑A patient person who can endure and restrain themselves brings benefit to both themselves and others, because they do not stir up conflict, and they are also treading the path to heaven and to Nibbāna, the final liberation. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in the Royal Chanting Book (Suat Mon Chabap Luang, 5th printing):

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: "Khanti" means patience and forbearance, towards hardship, towards hurt feelings and towards temptations that urge us to do wrong. This saying shows that patience is a virtue with wide-ranging benefits, both in daily life and in the higher Dhamma.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑Patience benefits oneself because it helps one avoid mistakes made in anger, spares one later regret, and helps one carry difficult work through to success. Patience also benefits others, because a patient person does not retaliate with violence, does not let conflict spread and gives others the chance to correct themselves. Peace in the family, at work and in society therefore rests on patience as an important foundation.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑It is said that one who has patience has set foot on the path to heaven and Nibbāna because patience is the foundation of keeping the precepts, practising concentration and developing wisdom. One who lacks patience will find it hard to keep the precepts when provoked, cannot meditate for long when weariness arises, and cannot give up the defilements when they make their demands. Patience is therefore like a ladder that helps one climb step by step towards higher goodness. Still, patience does not mean allowing others to harm us without protecting ourselves; it means not letting our emotions lead us into evil.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๒When a person can hold back anger and hurtful words, the cause of quarrels is cut off at the root, so the evil deeds that would arise from conflict have no chance to arise. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in the Royal Chanting Book (Suat Mon Chabap Luang, 5th printing):

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒To 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.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒Much 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.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒As 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.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn daily life, someone who goes to the temple to pay respects but comes home still quick to anger and speaking hurtfully to his family has not yet truly honoured the Buddha. But one who trains to restrain himself when provoked, does not retaliate with violence and forgives others, even on ordinary days when he does not go to the temple, is following the Buddha's teaching. A student who patiently studies even subjects he does not like, in order to do his duty well, is also training in patience.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who revere the Buddha should therefore show their reverence through practice, especially by training in patience in daily life. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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