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: It teaches that keeping the precepts is a cause of happiness at every stage of life, from youth to old age. One kind of happiness from virtue is the ease of mind of knowing that one has not done wrong or harmed others. In the Nāga Vagga of the Dhammapada, this saying appears together with the teaching that firmly established faith, the attainment of wisdom and not doing evil all bring happiness.

ขยายความบทตั้งVirtue brings happiness in several ways. One who does not harm, steal, commit sexual misconduct, lie, or drink intoxicants that lead to heedlessness does not create trouble through these actions. When he recalls his own conduct, he has reason to feel at ease and does not need to hide wrongs he has not done. Moreover, honesty and not taking advantage of others help build trust in living together.

ขยายความบทตั้งHowever, keeping the precepts does not mean that life will have no suffering or problems at all. A virtuous person may still fall ill, suffer loss or meet with disappointment. But virtue prevents him from adding to his troubles through his own wrongdoing, and it gives him a principle for living honestly. Even as the body changes with age, the ease of mind that comes from good conduct remains valuable.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑The wise one knows what is beneficial and what is harmful, and so guards virtue in its purity, refusing to break the precepts in exchange for some small gain. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Itivuttaka:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: "The wise" means those who have wisdom and know how to consider what is beneficial and what is harmful. "Should guard their virtue" means should keep body and speech restrained according to the precepts they observe. The saying teaches the wise to see the importance of good conduct and to keep the precepts intentionally, with understanding of their benefits, not merely following others without knowing why.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑In the Sukhapatthanā Sutta, the Buddha said that the wise, wishing for three kinds of happiness, should guard their virtue. These are praise, the gaining of wealth, and rebirth in heaven after death. This teaching shows that virtue supports benefits both in the present and in the future. The wise should therefore consider the results of their conduct far-sightedly and not abandon what is right for momentary pleasure or immediate gain.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑Regarding praise, honesty and not harming others are conduct that the wise commend, and they help build trust in living together. Regarding wealth, not being corrupt and not being heedless form a foundation that supports honest livelihood and the protection of one's property; a secure life also requires diligence, ability and appropriate spending. Rebirth in heaven is the future benefit mentioned in the discourse. The wise therefore see the value of virtue both as a good to be practised and as a cause of happiness to be built up.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn daily life, a family whose members are honest with one another, do not harm one another and do not deceive one another has a good foundation of trust. One who does not drink alcohol does not spend money on drinking and does not cause trouble through his own intoxication. A student who does not steal from friends or lie does not have to hide such wrongs. When he grows up and still keeps his good conduct, he can be a good example for the next generation.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish for happiness should therefore train themselves to keep the precepts as the normal way of life, not neglecting them just because no one is watching, and should regularly examine their own conduct. If they make a mistake, they should admit it, correct it and be careful not to repeat it. Keeping the precepts consistently builds the causes of ease of mind and peaceful living together, which are valuable from today until old age. 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 not doing evil brings happiness. The words "not doing evil" mean abstaining from all evil, by body, by speech and by mind. "Happiness" here means ease of body and ease of mind, a sense of freedom, with nothing to fear or worry about. This saying of the Buddha shows that happiness does not necessarily come from possessing things, but can arise from not doing what is bad.

ขยายความบทตั้งThe happiness that arises from not doing evil is a deep and stable happiness. One who does not do evil sleeps soundly, does not have to fear that his wrongdoing will be revealed, does not have to be suspicious of others, and does not have to lie to cover up wrongdoing, so his mind is light and at ease. On the contrary, one who does evil, even if he obtains what he wants, has a mind burning with fear, shame and remorse. In the Dhammapada, this saying of the Buddha appears together with the words: virtue brings happiness until old age, firmly established faith brings happiness, and the attainment of wisdom brings happiness. This shows that not doing evil is the foundation of all happiness.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑When a person is always careful to avoid all evil, their life is safe from trouble, unlike the heedless who go near evil and so easily slip and fall. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: This saying teaches that one should avoid all evils. The word "avoid" means keeping away, not going near and not doing. As for "all evils", it means every kind of evil, whether small or great, by body, speech or mind. This saying of the Buddha is a straightforward teaching that one who loves oneself and wishes for happiness should carefully avoid every kind of evil.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑In the Dhammapada, the Buddha made a comparison: just as a merchant with much wealth but few companions avoids a dangerous road, and just as one who loves life avoids poison, so one should avoid all evils. A merchant who knows that a road has robbers does not travel on it, because he knows he may lose both his wealth and his life. One who knows that something is poison does not touch it, because he knows it may be fatal. Evil is like a road with robbers and like poison; one who sees this clearly keeps far away from it from the start, without waiting until he has fallen into danger.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn real life, a student who takes an examination with his own ability, even if he does not get very high marks, has a mind at ease and is proud of himself, unlike one who copies in the examination and must keep fearing being caught. An employee who works honestly and does not take bribes lives peacefully and does not have to fear inspections. A husband and wife who are faithful to each other live together with trust and happiness.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish for true happiness should therefore begin by not doing evil, even when no one sees, because the happiness that comes from not doing evil is a happiness that does not need to be bought with wealth and that no one can take away. 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 not doing evil brings happiness. The words "not doing evil" mean abstaining from all evil, by body, by speech and by mind. "Happiness" here means ease of body and ease of mind, a sense of freedom, with nothing to fear or worry about. This saying of the Buddha shows that happiness does not necessarily come from possessing things, but can arise from not doing what is bad.

ขยายความบทตั้งThe happiness that arises from not doing evil is a deep and stable happiness. One who does not do evil sleeps soundly, does not have to fear that his wrongdoing will be revealed, does not have to be suspicious of others, and does not have to lie to cover up wrongdoing, so his mind is light and at ease. On the contrary, one who does evil, even if he obtains what he wants, has a mind burning with fear, shame and remorse. In the Dhammapada, this saying of the Buddha appears together with the words: virtue brings happiness until old age, firmly established faith brings happiness, and the attainment of wisdom brings happiness. This shows that not doing evil is the foundation of all happiness.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑One who loves oneself and wishes for happiness should keep away from every kind of evil, whether small or great, in body, speech, and mind, neither going near it nor doing it. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: This saying teaches that one should avoid all evils. The word "avoid" means keeping away, not going near and not doing. As for "all evils", it means every kind of evil, whether small or great, by body, speech or mind. This saying of the Buddha is a straightforward teaching that one who loves oneself and wishes for happiness should carefully avoid every kind of evil.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑In the Dhammapada, the Buddha made a comparison: just as a merchant with much wealth but few companions avoids a dangerous road, and just as one who loves life avoids poison, so one should avoid all evils. A merchant who knows that a road has robbers does not travel on it, because he knows he may lose both his wealth and his life. One who knows that something is poison does not touch it, because he knows it may be fatal. Evil is like a road with robbers and like poison; one who sees this clearly keeps far away from it from the start, without waiting until he has fallen into danger.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn real life, a student who takes an examination with his own ability, even if he does not get very high marks, has a mind at ease and is proud of himself, unlike one who copies in the examination and must keep fearing being caught. An employee who works honestly and does not take bribes lives peacefully and does not have to fear inspections. A husband and wife who are faithful to each other live together with trust and happiness.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish for true happiness should therefore begin by not doing evil, even when no one sees, because the happiness that comes from not doing evil is a happiness that does not need to be bought with wealth and that no one can take away. 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: The words "one who is mindful" mean one who recollects and is always self-aware, not absent-minded in thinking, speaking or acting. As for "prosperity", it means what is good, safety and progress. This saying teaches that one who is mindful meets with prosperity at all times; that is, whatever situation he is in, mindfulness always helps to lead him towards what is good.

ขยายความบทตั้งMindfulness is a quality of great help, because it is the foundation of all goodness. Giving requires mindfulness in order to be done correctly and appropriately; keeping the precepts requires mindfulness so as not to transgress through carelessness; work requires mindfulness so as not to make mistakes; and study also requires mindfulness in order to remember and understand. One who has mindfulness is therefore like a person walking in the dark with a lamp in hand: he sees the way clearly, does not stumble and fall, and does not lose his way. Prosperity can therefore come to him at all times.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑When a person's mind is governed by mindfulness, even while the body sleeps the mind stays awake to good and evil, unlike one who lacks mindfulness, who is like a sleeper even with open eyes. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Saṃyutta Nikāya, Sagāthāvagga:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: This saying, "sati lokasmi jāgaro", meaning "Mindfulness is the quality of wakefulness in the world," signifies that mindfulness reminds a person to live heedfully, without absent-mindedness and without neglecting to do good. The word "mindfulness" (sati) means recollection, not being absent-minded, and keeping the mind on the task at hand; it helps one to remember one's duties, what one should do and what one should refrain from. One who has mindfulness is therefore like one who is awake, because he does not let his life run on in heedlessness.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑Sleep here does not mean natural sleep, but is a comparison for heedlessness, carelessness and infatuation with various things until one forgets one's duties and neglects what is right. A person whose mind is asleep in this way is easily overwhelmed by the defilements, like a house whose guard has fallen asleep, giving thieves the opportunity to come in and steal. Mindfulness is therefore like a guard watching the gate of the mind, warning one not to let oneself be carried away by moods. When greed, anger or delusion arises, mindfulness helps one to remember to guard the mind and opens the way for wisdom to consider and hold back words or actions that might cause harm.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑A teaching in line with this explanation appears in the Jāgara Sutta, which says that when the five faculties are awake, the five hindrances are said to be asleep, and when the five hindrances are asleep, the five faculties are said to be awake. The five faculties, namely faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom, are important qualities that support the development of the mind. The five hindrances, namely sensual desire (kāmacchanda), delight in sensual pleasures; ill will (byāpāda), thoughts of harming others; sloth and torpor (thīnamiddha), dejection and drowsiness; restlessness and remorse (uddhaccakukkucca), agitation and worry; and doubt (vicikicchā), wavering uncertainty, are qualities that obstruct the mind from progressing in goodness. The wakefulness of the faculties and the sleep of the hindrances are therefore an image showing a life lived with wholesome qualities, without letting unwholesome qualities take over.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑The commentary on the Jāgara Sutta explains that one who is endowed with the five faculties is called awake even while sleeping, because he is heedful and endowed with what is wholesome, while one who is endowed with the five hindrances is called asleep even in other postures, because he is heedless and endowed with what is unwholesome. Therefore, the statement "even while sleeping, one is called awake" means being heedful in the Dhamma; it does not mean that while asleep one is still aware of events or dangers around one all the time.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตIn real life, a mindful merchant does not spend extravagantly, knows how to save and is not taken in by invitations to invest that promise too much, so his business is stable. A craftsman who works with machines mindfully does his work neatly and safely. A mindful student, when taking an examination, reads the questions carefully and does not answer wrongly out of carelessness. A person who lacks mindfulness, however, no matter how capable, may make a slip and suffer loss.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish for prosperity in life should therefore train their mindfulness to be strong and always be self-aware in everything they do, because mindfulness is a protection and the gateway to all prosperity. 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: 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.

ขยายความบทตั้งThe 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.

ประโยคสะพาน + ที่มา ๑True happiness does not have to come from owning things but arises from not doing evil. One who refrains from evil in body, speech, and mind is at ease and has nothing to fear. This accords with the Buddha's saying found in Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada:

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑To explain: This saying teaches that not doing evil brings happiness. The words "not doing evil" mean abstaining from all evil, by body, by speech and by mind. "Happiness" here means ease of body and ease of mind, a sense of freedom, with nothing to fear or worry about. This saying of the Buddha shows that happiness does not necessarily come from possessing things, but can arise from not doing what is bad.

อธิบายบทเชื่อม ๑The happiness that arises from not doing evil is a deep and stable happiness. One who does not do evil sleeps soundly, does not have to fear that his wrongdoing will be revealed, does not have to be suspicious of others, and does not have to lie to cover up wrongdoing, so his mind is light and at ease. On the contrary, one who does evil, even if he obtains what he wants, has a mind burning with fear, shame and remorse. In the Dhammapada, this saying of the Buddha appears together with the words: virtue brings happiness until old age, firmly established faith brings happiness, and the attainment of wisdom brings happiness. This shows that not doing evil is the foundation of all happiness.

ตัวอย่างในชีวิตFor example, parents who have given love, care and upbringing to their children throughout their lives are loved by their children more than anyone else. An elder brother or sister who shares toys or snacks with the younger ones and protects them when there is danger is loved by the younger ones. An employee who smiles and serves with kindness is loved by the customers. Even merely giving a smile and gentle words can make us loved by others without spending any wealth at all.

สรุปTo conclude: Those who wish to be loved should therefore always ask themselves, "What have I given to others today?" and diligently give according to their opportunities and means. Such giving is both merit and the true charm of a human being. This accords with the Dhamma saying set forth as the theme at the beginning:

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