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 the value of wisdom with that of wealth and shows that wisdom is more secure, because it is the tool for acquiring wealth, preserving it and living well in every situation.

ขยายความบทตั้งThe wise can live even when their wealth is gone because they know how to find a way out, how to adapt, how to start again and how to use their knowledge and ability to generate income anew. Those without wisdom, however much wealth they have, may spend it without understanding its value, be easily deceived, or invest wrongly until their wealth is gone, and once it is gone they do not know how to go on living. "Cannot live" here means cannot live securely and with quality.

ขยายความบทตั้งThis saying does not teach that wealth is unimportant. Wealth is a condition that makes life more comfortable and enables one to do more good. But wealth is external and can be lost for many reasons, whereas wisdom is internal and stays with us. Those who invest in developing their wisdom are like people building a secure guarantee for their lives.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑The worth of a life does not lie in its length. A single day in the life of one who is wise and contemplates the Dhamma is better than a hundred years of one with poor wisdom. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: This saying teaches that the value of life is not measured by its length but by its quality, that is, by having wisdom and a steady mind.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑"Unconcentrated" means a mind that is scattered, shaken by emotions and without concentration, while "meditative" means using a calm, steady mind to contemplate things as they really are. One who lives a hundred years without wisdom and with a scattered mind may spend his whole life in delusion and suffering without understanding life, while a wise person who has seen the truth of life, even for a single day, has gained something more valuable.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑This statement is a comparison to emphasise the value of wisdom and concentration; it does not mean that a long life has no value, nor does it encourage wishing for a short life. On the contrary, one who understands this saying sees every day of life as a precious opportunity to develop wisdom and train the mind, and so should not let it pass in vain.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๒When a person clings to a small immediate happiness, they miss a greater one, but if they can restrain themselves and give up the small for the sake of the better, they gain the greater happiness, as befits the wise. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒To explain: This saying teaches us to choose happiness with wisdom. Sometimes a better happiness requires giving up certain pleasures or comforts. The wise therefore do not look only at what pleases them at the moment, but consider what will bring greater benefit and peace.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒"A small happiness" means happiness that is slight or limited, such as the enjoyment of eating, going out or spending as one likes. "A great happiness" means a greater happiness, which the commentary explains as referring to the happiness of Nibbāna, that is, the happiness of extinguishing the defilements and being freed from suffering. One who aims at such happiness is therefore willing to give up attachment to small pleasures and trains oneself through giving, keeping the precepts and developing meditation.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒Applying this lesson in daily life shows us that we cannot indulge ourselves in everything and still expect good things always to come about. If we want knowledge, we must be willing to take time from fun to study; if we want money for times of need, we must cut back on buying unnecessary things; if we want a peaceful mind, we must train ourselves to let go of the desire to get the better of others. Giving something up is therefore not only a loss, but a way of opening the path for something more valuable to arise.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒However, giving up a small happiness must be accompanied by wisdom; it does not mean forcing oneself until one falls ill or neglecting duties that should be done. Adequate rest and suitable enjoyment still have their place in life. What matters is knowing moderation and considering whether the pleasure one is attached to obstructs goodness or a more important benefit. If one sees clearly that life will be better by reducing it, one should train the mind to dare to reduce, dare to give up and dare to let go.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn daily life, people who lose their property in natural disasters but have professional knowledge and know how to plan often re-establish themselves before long. But someone who inherits a large fortune without knowing how to manage it may use it all up within a few years. A student who studies diligently, even if his family is not wealthy, has the chance to build a good future through his own knowledge and ability.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish for a secure life should therefore invest more in developing wisdom than in accumulating wealth alone, and use that wisdom to acquire and preserve wealth rightly. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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