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 "friendship" means being friends, affection and goodwill towards one another. This saying teaches that one who gives binds friendship, that is, giving is like a rope that binds people's hearts together and gives rise to good relationships. One who gives has friends, and those friends are ready to help him when he is in need.

ขยายความบทตั้งThe giving that binds friendship does not mean only giving wealth and material things. Giving good words, giving time, giving help with physical effort, giving forgiveness and giving encouragement are all forms of giving that bind people's hearts. The teaching called the four bases of social harmony (saṅgahavatthu) also places giving as the first item, which shows that giving is the heart of building friendship. Conversely, people who are stingy, never share, and think only of taking from others find it hard to find true friends, because there is nothing to bind people's hearts.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑The love of others cannot be demanded, but it arises from giving. One who is generous by habit is therefore beloved and wished well by the people around them. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Aṅguttara Nikāya, Pañcakanipāta:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: The words "one who gives" in this saying mean one who has self-sacrifice as a habit and is ready to share what he has for the benefit of others. The words "is loved" mean that he receives affection, kindness and goodwill from the people around him. This saying of the Buddha points to a law of nature: the love of others cannot be demanded or forced, but arises of its own accord towards one who gives.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑The reason one who gives is loved is that all human beings wish for happiness and do not want suffering. Whoever makes them happy and helps them out of difficulty, they love that person. Conversely, those who only take, never give, and keep taking advantage of others, no matter how much wealth or power they have, may have people around them only because those people hope for some benefit. When the benefit runs out, those people leave. Love that arises from sincere giving is therefore more stable than love bought with power or benefits.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตAt school, a student who shares his knowledge and helps explain the lessons to classmates who cannot keep up is loved by his classmates. At work, one who helps his colleagues when they are overloaded with work receives cooperation in return when he himself needs it. In the village, neighbours who share the fruit from their gardens with one another, or help look after each other's houses when the owners are away, live together warmly. All these relationships begin with giving.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish to have true friends and to live happily in society should therefore be the first to give, giving sincerely without expecting anything in return. When one gives constantly, friendship will grow naturally of its own accord. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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