Ven. Acariya Mun - Spiritual Biography + photos

are released, in the same way that prison inmates are released at
the end of their sentences.
From the very beginning of Ãcariya Mun’s practice, upacãra
samãdhi and khaõika samãdhi were bound together because the
nature of his citta was inherently active and adventurous. As soon
as his citta entered khaõika samãdhi, it instantly began to roam
and experience the different phenomena existing in the sphere
of upacãra. So he trained himself in samãdhi until he was pro-
ficient enough to make his citta stay still or go out to experi-
ence various phenomena as he wished. From then on it was easy
for him to practice the samãdhi of his choice. For instance, he
could enter momentarily into khaõika samãdhi and then move
out to access samãdhi in order to experience various phenomena,
or he could focus intensively and enter into the full absorption
of appanã samãdhi, where he would rest for as long as necessary.
Appanã samãdhi is a state of perfect calm that’s absolutely serene
and peaceful. Because of this, meditators may become attached to
it. Ãcariya Mun said that he was attached to this type of samãdhi
for awhile, but not for long, since he was by nature inclined toward
wisdom. So he was able to resolve this matter himself and find a
way out before complacency set in.
Anyone who is transfixed in appanã samãdhi will make slow
progress if they do not try to apply wisdom to examine it. Because
it fills one with such happiness, many meditators are held fast by
this kind of samãdhi. A strong, lingering attachment forms, and
the meditator yearns for more, overwhelming any inclination to
examine things with wisdom, which is the way to eradicate all
kilesas. Meditators who fail to receive timely advice from a wise
person will be reluctant to disengage themselves and realize the