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 teaches that when one gives, merit increases. The word "merit" (puñña) means goodness that cleanses the mind and is a cause of happiness. Every time a person gives with a mind of self-sacrifice, merit arises in the mind and accumulates more and more, like water dripping into a jar one drop at a time: although each drop is small, when it drips constantly, the jar can become full.

ขยายความบทตั้งMerit is said to increase when one gives because, at the moment of giving, the giver's mind lets go of a portion of stinginess, and greed, a defilement that makes the mind narrow, grows weaker. The mind therefore becomes broader and clearer. This is merit that can be seen in the present. The more often one gives, the more giving becomes a habit, and the more firmly the mind is established in goodness. This saying of the Buddha appears together with the words "when one keeps restraint, enmity does not arise", which shows that giving makes goodness increase, while restraint prevents evil from arising. These two go together as a pair in living a good life.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑Giving is like a thread that binds people's hearts together. One who knows how to give and share binds friendships with others, creating good relationships and friends ready to help. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Saṃyutta Nikāya, Sagāthāvagga:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To 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.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑The 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 ๒When a person knows how to share what they have for the benefit of others, they naturally receive love and affection in return, while the possessive drift away from people's goodwill. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Aṅguttara Nikāya, Pañcakanipāta:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒To 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 ๒The 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.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn real life, one who begins by offering just one ladleful of rice to the monks each day, after doing so for a long time, feels joy in the mind and wants to do more other good deeds, such as helping with work at the monastery, keeping the precepts or donating to help society. A student who helps the teacher carry things or helps friends tidy the classroom, when he does so often, becomes a kind-hearted person whom everyone loves. Giving only a little but regularly can therefore build up great merit in the long run.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish for merit should therefore not wait until they have much wealth before doing it, but should diligently give according to their means at every opportunity, because every time one gives, merit increases immediately, and that merit is a treasure that follows one everywhere. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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