est respect. They were neat, orderly, and pleasing to the eye – like
immaculately folded robes.
Ãcariya Mun had always been curious to know how walk-
ing and sitting meditation were practiced at the time of the
Buddha. He also had questions about the proper etiquette to be
used between junior and senior monks, and whether it was nec-
essary for a monk to wear his formal robes while doing medita-
tion. When such questions arose in his mind, invariably one of
the Buddhas, or an Arahant disciple, appeared to him in samãdhi
and demonstrated how these practices were originally performed
in the Buddha’s day. For example, Ãcariya Mun was curious to
know the correct manner of practicing walking meditation so as
to show proper respect for Dhamma. A Buddha or an Arahant
then appeared, demonstrating in detail how to place the hands,
how to walk, and how to remain self-composed. Sometimes, these
demonstrations included explicit instructions; at other times, the
methods were demonstrated by example. They also showed him
such things as the proper way to sit in samãdhi, including the most
suitable direction to face and the best seated posture to assume.
Ãcariya Mun had some strange things to say about how junior
and senior monks showed their respect for each other. Ãcariya
Mun wanted to know how monks at the time of the Buddha con-
ducted themselves with appropriate respect toward one another.^30
Shortly after this thought arose, the vision of a Buddha and many
Arahant disciples appeared to him. The Arahants were of all
different ages – some were young, others older, a few being so
old that their hair had turned completely white. A considerable
number of small novices of all ages accompanied them. How-
ever, the Buddha and his disciples did not arrive together – each
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
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