monk with an especially bold, resolute character came to see him
in Chiang Mai, Ãcariya Mun used this teaching technique to
good advantage. Unlike those less earnestly committed, these
monks were not apt to react in a negative way. Being fully dedi-
cated to the cause of Dhamma, as soon as Ãcariya Mun admon-
ished them about their faults, they were willing to do their best
to rectify them. No matter how pointedly he admonished them,
they did not feel ashamed or apprehensive when their mistakes
were exposed.
Ãcariya Mun was a consummate teacher and his message
went straight to the heart of his listeners. Whether sharing his
own personal knowledge or pointing out the shortcomings of
his students, he was always frank and outspoken. He remained
candid and impartial in his criticism with the intention of giving
as much help as he possibly could. His students were in no way
contemptuous. They never refused to accept the truth; nor were
they conceited about their own achievements, as often happens
in a group of meditators.
His Dhamma explanations were invariably adapted to the
individual needs of his students, touching only on the points that
were essential to the individual’s level of practice. When he deter-
mined that a student was practicing correctly, he encouraged him
to step up his efforts. But when he felt that someone’s meditation
was faulty or potentially dangerous, he pointed this out as a way
of encouraging the student to abandon that practice.
For monks who went to him with doubts or questions, his
explanations were unerringly right to the point; and, as far as I
know, his students were never disappointed. It’s safe to say that
everyone who went to him with a question about meditation prac-
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
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