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 words "the accumulation of evil" mean doing evil again and again, until that evil builds up more and more and becomes a habit. This saying teaches that such accumulation of evil brings suffering, because each evil deed is like a drop of water dripping into a vessel: when it keeps dripping, the vessel eventually becomes full.

ขยายความบทตั้งIn the Dhammapada, the Buddha warned: if a person should do evil, he should not do it again and again, and should not take delight in it, for the accumulation of evil brings suffering. Many people think that small evils do not matter, such as telling a small lie or taking a little of other people's things, but it is precisely this way of thinking that makes evil accumulate more and more. Once one has done it until it becomes habitual, the mind no longer feels ashamed, and greater evils can easily follow. In the end, suffering arrives, in the form of legal punishment, disgrace and distress of mind.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑True happiness does not have to come from owning things but arises from not doing evil. One who refrains from evil in body, speech, and mind is at ease and has nothing to fear. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: This saying teaches that not doing evil brings happiness. The words "not doing evil" mean abstaining from all evil, by body, by speech and by mind. "Happiness" here means ease of body and ease of mind, a sense of freedom, with nothing to fear or worry about. This saying of the Buddha shows that happiness does not necessarily come from possessing things, but can arise from not doing what is bad.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑The happiness that arises from not doing evil is a deep and stable happiness. One who does not do evil sleeps soundly, does not have to fear that his wrongdoing will be revealed, does not have to be suspicious of others, and does not have to lie to cover up wrongdoing, so his mind is light and at ease. On the contrary, one who does evil, even if he obtains what he wants, has a mind burning with fear, shame and remorse. In the Dhammapada, this saying of the Buddha appears together with the words: virtue brings happiness until old age, firmly established faith brings happiness, and the attainment of wisdom brings happiness. This shows that not doing evil is the foundation of all happiness.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตFor example, a child who steals his parents' money a little at a time without anyone knowing may, when he grows up, dare to embezzle larger sums of money, until one day he is caught and must receive a heavy punishment. One who is addicted to gambling also begins by playing only a little, but once the habit has accumulated until he is addicted, he may lose his property, his family and his future. These sufferings do not arise all at once, but gradually accumulate from evil done little by little.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who do not wish for suffering should therefore not be heedless of even a small evil. They should stop from the very first time, and if they have carelessly done it already, they should not do it again, because stopping the accumulation of evil is closing the door of suffering. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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