The Difference is in the Heart
Having written about the devas, I shall now write about the human
visitors who came to see Ãcariya Mun. Being human, I am also
included in this matter, but I still wish to apologize to the reader
if there is anything unappealing or inappropriate in what follows.
In some ways I have an incurably roguish character, as you will
no doubt notice. However, I feel it necessary to record truthfully
what Ãcariya Mun told his disciples privately. I ask for your for-
giveness, but I include this so that you may compare humans and
devas and learn something from it.
Ãcariya Mun said there was a great difference between
humans and devas in the way they communicated with him and
listened to his discourses on Dhamma. Devas of every realm, from
the highest to the lowest, are able to comprehend the meaning
in a discussion of Dhamma much more easily than their human
counterparts. And when the discussion is over, their exclama-
tions of approval – “sãdhu, sãdhu, sãdhu” – echo throughout the
spiritual universe. Devas of every realm have enormous respect
for monks; not one of them show any sign of impropriety. When
coming to listen to a monk discourse on Dhamma, their com-
portment is always calm, orderly, and exquisitely graceful. Human
beings, on the other hand, never really understand the meaning
of a Dhamma discourse – even after repeated explanations. Not
only do they fail to grasp the meaning, but some are even crit-
ical of the speaker, thinking: What is he talking about? I can’t
understand a thing. He’s not as good as that other monk. Some
who themselves have previously ordained as monks cannot keep
their gross kilesas from surfacing, boasting: When I was ordained