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 one who is always finding excuses to postpone or abandon work misses the benefits he should have gained, because opportunity and time wait for no one.

ขยายความบทตั้งThis saying comes from the Sigālaka Sutta, which the Buddha taught to the young man Sigālaka, describing the dangers of laziness: the lazy person tends to say it is too cold, too hot, too late, too early, too hungry or too full, and so does not work. As a result, wealth that has not yet arisen does not arise, and wealth that has arisen is used up. These excuses sound reasonable, but in truth they conceal the laziness in the mind.

ขยายความบทตั้งThe excuses of the lazy have one important characteristic: they never run out. When one escapes the cold, one meets the heat; when one escapes the heat, it is evening. If one waits until everything is ready before starting, one may never do anything at all. Nevertheless, resting when truly tired or ill is necessary. This saying warns against using excuses to avoid one's duties; it does not forbid caring for one's health.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑All beings alike desire happiness. One who seeks their own happiness by harming and hurting others therefore does not find true happiness, either in this world or in the next. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: "All beings" includes both humans and other animals, "the rod" here means a stick or weapon used to cause harm, and "after death" means after one has passed away. This saying warns that seeking happiness for oneself by harming other lives is evil kamma and does not lead to happiness in the next world.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑The commentary on the Dhammapada tells that the Buddha saw a group of boys beating a snake with sticks. When he asked why they were doing so, the boys replied that it was because they were afraid the snake would bite them. The Buddha then taught that one who desires happiness for oneself should not harm other beings, and spoke this verse. This story invites us to reflect that just as we love life and do not want to be hurt, other lives likewise want happiness and do not want to be harmed.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑One who harms others may gain momentary satisfaction or benefit, but that satisfaction arises from the suffering of the other party, and it may also give rise to fear, conflict and enmity. Harming until it becomes a habit may also make it easier to overlook the pain of others. We should therefore cultivate loving-kindness and consider whether what we are doing for our own happiness is causing trouble for anyone.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๒When a person wishes for good results in life, they must diligently sow the seeds of goodness, for no one who sows bad seed can harvest good fruit, and the result always matches the cause. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Saṃyutta Nikāya, Sagāthāvagga:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒To explain: This saying presents the principle of kamma in the simplest way, comparing actions with sowing seeds and the results of actions with the fruit that grows from those seeds.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒The comparison with sowing seeds helps us see several characteristics of kamma. First, the fruit corresponds to the cause: one who plants mangoes gets mangoes, not limes. Second, the fruit may not appear immediately; it needs time and suitable conditions. Third, the one who sows is the one who reaps; no one can reap on behalf of another. Whoever eats is the one who is filled; no one can eat on another's behalf. Such understanding keeps people from becoming discouraged when they have done good but not yet seen the results, and from becoming careless when they have done evil but not yet seen its harm.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒However, in Buddhism the results of kamma are not always fixed in a simple way. Just as seeds that have been sown need soil, water and the right season, kamma depends on many causes and conditions, and those who have done wrong can still change themselves by seriously creating new good kamma. This saying therefore does not teach despair; it teaches us to choose to sow good seeds from today.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๓A fool of poor wisdom often does not realize it while doing evil, because they cannot see its danger, but when the results appear, they are tormented by their own deeds as if burnt by fire. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๓To explain: This saying teaches that a fool does evil without clearly knowing the harmful results that will follow, but when the evil deed bears fruit, he himself must suffer from what he has done. "A fool" here refers to one who lacks the wisdom to weigh evil and merit, benefit and harm; it does not mean one who has little education.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๓The commentary explains that "does not realise it" in this verse means not knowing what result the deed one does will bring, not failing to know that one is doing evil. For example, some people know that cheating or harming others is wrong, yet still do it because they want to gain something or want revenge, without being aware of the harmful results that will follow. "As if burned by fire" shows the burning torment that comes from the result of evil kamma, and the commentary also speaks of the suffering in hell, so its meaning is broader than the regret one feels on realising one has done wrong.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๓The important lesson is that we should not look only at the satisfaction or benefit gained at the moment, but should use mindfulness and wisdom to consider before acting whether this is right, whom it will harm and what damage it may cause. Even when we are angry or strongly want something, we should stop and think, and not let our emotions lead us into wrongdoing. Not yet seeing harmful results immediately does not make evil something that ought to be done.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn daily life, a student who tells himself he is too tired today and will study tomorrow, postponing again and again until the day of the exam, will not be ready and will lose his chance. A farmer who will not prepare the soil because the weather is hot may miss the planting season. Someone who wants to exercise but waits for good weather may never begin. But those who adapt and work under the conditions as they are achieve steady results.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish for success should therefore observe the excuses in their own minds, distinguish what is a real necessity from what is mere laziness, and carry out their duties regularly, just as the saying goes: "Benefits pass by the one who abandons his work. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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