the culprit sometimes became terribly distressed, finding himself
rebuked amidst the assembled monks. Ãcariya Mun was very well
aware of this, as he was of the most expedient method to use in
any given circumstance.
Some readers may feel uncomfortable with some of the
things that are written here. I apologize for this; but I have accu-
rately recorded everything that Ãcariya Mun related himself.
Many senior disciples, who lived under his tutelage, have con-
firmed and elaborated on these accounts, leaving us with a vast
array of stories.GENERALLY SPEAKING, external sense objects pose the greatest
danger to practicing monks. They enjoy thinking about sights,
sounds, smells, tastes, bodily contact and mental images concern-
ing the opposite sex. Though this is unintended, the tendency to
do it is deeply ingrained in their personalities. Inevitably these
were the primary subjects of Ãcariya Mun’s admonitions, whether
given directly or indirectly. Monks had other kinds of thoughts of
course, but unless they were particularly serious he wouldn’t take
much notice.
The evening meeting was the most important time by far.
Ãcariya Mun wanted the members of his audience to be both
physically and mentally calm. He didn’t want anything to dis-
turb them, or himself, while he was speaking, ensuring that his
disciples received maximum benefit from listening. If someone
allowed wild, unwholesome thoughts to arise at that time, he was
usually struck by a bolt of lightning – right in the middle of the
thoughts that absorbed him, right in the middle of the meeting.