Salābhaṃ nātimaññeyya

Thai script: สลาภํ นาติมญฺเญยฺย

Phonetic Reading: สะ-ลา-พัง นา-ติ-มัน-เยย-ยะ

“One should not despise one's own gains.”

Thai: “ไม่ควรดูหมิ่นลาภของตน”

Tipitaka Canonical Source & Context

Canonical Reference:

ขุททกนิกาย ธรรมบท เล่ม ๒๕ หน้า ๖๕ (ขุ.ธ. ๒๕/๖๕)

From the Dhammapada (v. 365). The Buddha cautioned practitioners against despising their modest donations while envying others, declaring that those consumed by jealousy never attain concentrated stillness.

Word-by-Word Pali Vocabulary Breakdown

Pali Word	Phonetic	Thai Meaning	English Meaning
Sa ส (Sa)	sa	ของตน, ของตัวเอง	One's own, belonging to oneself
Lābhaṃ ลาภํ (Lapham)	la-pham	ลาภ, สิ่งที่ได้มา, ผลประโยชน์อันชอบธรรม	Gain, reward, righteous receipt
Nātimaññeyya นาติมญฺเญยฺย (Natimanyeyya)	na-ti-man-yey-ya	ไม่ควรดูหมิ่น, ไม่ควรเหยียดหยาม, ไม่ควรละเลยดูแคลน	Should not look down upon, should not despise or disparage

In-depth Commentary & Spiritual Insight

A pervasive cognitive trap is overlooking the gifts in our own hands while assuming the grass is greener everywhere else. This perpetual self-diminishment breeds jealousy and bitterness.

"Salapham natimanyeyya" calls us to honor our efforts, talents, and opportunities. Even if rewards appear modest in conventional eyes, when gained with integrity, they constitute a sacred foundation for future growth. Honoring one's own rightful fruits bestows unshakable self-respect.

Practical Takeaways for Daily Life

�� Value daily small chores and responsibilities; grand masterworks are assembled from modest individual steps.
�� Refuse to let external financial comparisons define your human dignity and worth.
�� Encourage yourself for maintaining moral integrity, remembering that steady ethical progress outlasts flashy shortcuts.

Mindfulness & Vipassana Reflection

In contemplation, practitioners sometimes despair over slow progress. Not despising one's practice means maintaining quiet perseverance: just as tiny water droplets eventually fill a large jar, steady moments of awareness culminate in awakening.

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