gathered to eat, he came in and immediately began speaking about
the new arrival.
“This monk came here for the express purpose of learning
about Dhamma. Looking at his behavior, I can find nothing offen-
sive – it’s commendable. Why then did he exhibit such dreadful
conduct last night? As I sat in meditation, he approached and
stood right in front of me, just a few feet away. He then proceeded
at some length to assume various boxing poses, before gradually
backing away. As he slowly faded from my view, he continued to
shadow box, kicking first right and then left as he went.^3 What’s
the story with this monk? Was he a boxer before he ordained as
a monk? Is that the reason he gave me a lengthy boxing exhibi-
tion?”
While he spoke, all the monks, including the former boxer,
sat motionless in bewildered silence. Ãcariya Mun turned to the
former boxer, whose face had gone pale.
“What do you have to say for yourself? What did you have
in mind, behaving in such a manner? At least you didn’t take a
punch at me!”
As it was time to go on almsround, Ãcariya Mun said
nothing more that morning. Nor did he bring the matter up later,
when instructing the monks at the evening meeting. But during
the night he was again confronted with the same problem. So, he
brought it up again the following morning.
“What’s your real purpose for coming to me? Last night,
there you were again, displaying your boxing skills, jumping and
kicking all over the place. It lasted nearly all night. Such behav-
ior is not normal for someone whose intentions are noble. What
did you have in mind before you came to see me? And what are
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
#1