ตัวอย่างเรียงความแก้กระทู้ธรรม

อารัมภบทI shall now explain and expand upon the meaning of the Dhamma theme written above, as a guide for study and practice.

อธิบายบทตั้งTo 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.

ขยายความบทตั้งThe 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.

ขยายความบทตั้งOne 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 ๑All beings alike desire happiness. One who seeks their own happiness without harming or hurting others finds rightful happiness, both now and hereafter. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: This saying teaches us to seek happiness with loving-kindness. Just as we love happiness and dislike suffering, others likewise love happiness and dislike suffering. Since we do not want anyone to harm us, we should not harm anyone for the sake of our own happiness.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑This verse is the counterpart of the verse on the harm of hurting others. The commentary on the Dhammapada tells that the Buddha taught the boys who were beating a snake with sticks out of fear of being bitten, showing them that one who desires happiness for oneself should not harm other lives. This reminds us that wanting happiness is not wrong, but we must know how to choose the way by which we gain it. If gaining it means that others must suffer pain, live in fear or be troubled, we should stop and ask whether we are creating happiness or creating causes of suffering for one another.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑The happiness of not harming begins with our own peace of mind. When we do not kill, do not harm and do not make anyone's pain a source of amusement, we have reason to recall our own conduct with an untroubled heart. Although we cannot make everyone love us, we can choose not to create enmity by harming them. Loving-kindness and honesty also help life together to rest on trust. As for the result in the future, the verse declares that one who seeks happiness without harming will find happiness after leaving this world.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๒When a person lets laziness appear in the form of various excuses and keeps putting work off, the benefits they should have gained slip past them little by little until they can no longer be recovered. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Dīgha Nikāya, Pāṭikavagga:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒To 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.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒This 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.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒The 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.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตApplying this lesson in daily life, we should avoid tormenting animals for fun, mocking friends until they are humiliated, or taking advantage of others for our own gain. Though these actions take different forms, they all show that our happiness should not be built on the suffering of others. If we must protect ourselves, we should stay mindful, find a way out of the danger or seek help, and avoid causing more harm than necessary or retaliating out of spite.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who seek happiness should therefore always remember that others love happiness and do not want suffering, just as they do. Before thinking, speaking or doing anything, they should consider whether it will harm anyone, and then choose ways that are honest and kind. Not harming supports living together in peace and is a way of abstaining from the evil kamma that brings 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.

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 anyone who would teach others should first practise what he teaches, because teaching carries weight when the teacher truly lives it, and it reminds us that training oneself is harder than telling others what to do.

ขยายความบทตั้งIn the Dhammapada, this saying concerns the Elder Padhānikatissa. He urged the young monks to strive diligently, yet he himself slept at the time when he should have been practising. As a result, those monks did not get enough rest and made no progress in their practice. The Buddha then taught that a teacher should first make himself able to do what he teaches. This story shows that teaching without practising not only fails to bear fruit but may even cause others harm.

ขยายความบทตั้งTraining oneself is difficult because we easily see the faults of others but have difficulty seeing our own, and the habits of the mind resist change. Telling others to give up a bad habit takes only words, but giving up that habit oneself requires patience, mindfulness and continuous effort. One who has trained himself understands how difficult change is, and can guide others with empathy and good results.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑When a person clearly knows what their own true good is, they strive to fulfil that duty completely and do not let another's good, however great, crowd it out until their own main duty falls short. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: "Neglect" here means letting something go to waste or abandoning it, while "one's own benefit" means the true benefit of life: developing oneself in knowledge, goodness and freedom from suffering. This saying teaches us to set priorities and not to abandon our main duty for other matters until we ourselves are harmed.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑In the Dhammapada, this saying concerns the Elder Attadattha. When the Buddha announced that he would pass into final Nibbāna, many monks gathered around him, but the Elder resolved to hasten his practice so as to attain the fruit first. The Buddha praised him, saying that practising according to the Dhamma is the true way of honouring the Teacher. This story shows that the "benefit of oneself" mentioned in the saying does not mean material gain or selfishness, but fulfilling one's own important duty.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑Nevertheless, this saying does not teach us to neglect helping others. Buddhism teaches both one's own benefit and the benefit of others, but a person who has not yet developed himself can help others only to a limited extent, just as someone who cannot swim will find it hard to rescue a drowning person. Developing oneself is therefore the foundation for helping others effectively and sustainably.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๒A wise person first improves themselves and establishes themselves in proper qualities, and only then instructs others, because doing as one teaches keeps one free from blame and untarnished. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒To explain: "What is proper" means conduct and virtues suited to one's position and to what one is going to teach, while "not tarnished" means not being blamed, not losing one's reputation and not being troubled at heart. This saying teaches the right order: improve oneself first, then teach others.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒In the Dhammapada, this saying concerns Upananda, who could preach beautifully on having few wishes and contentment, yet was himself greedy for requisites. When the truth came to light, he was criticised. The Buddha then taught that the wise should first establish themselves in what is proper. This story shows that skill in speaking or teaching, if not supported by conduct, brings tarnish upon the teacher himself.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๒This saying is close to the one that teaches "As one instructs others, so should one act oneself," but it emphasises the result for the teacher: the tarnish or the clear conscience of oneself. One who first establishes himself in goodness can speak with confidence when teaching others, without fearing that listeners will question his own conduct, and his teaching carries weight and credibility.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn daily life, parents who want their children to read but spend the whole day on their phones will find it hard to teach their children. A teacher who teaches students to be punctual should first come to class on time. A supervisor who asks staff to be honest must be honest himself as an example. Showing by doing is therefore a more powerful way of teaching than words.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish to encourage others to do good should therefore begin by training themselves seriously, and once they can do it, guide others with understanding and kindness. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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