had lived with him for a long time didn’t mean they could expect
to get overly familiar with him, for he was the type of person who
didn’t readily countenance familiarity in anyone. His students
could never afford to be complacent – sometimes even the deer
that’s wary of hunters gets shot.
Youthful Exuberance
Occasionally, when the monks living with him were highly
attained individuals, Ãcariya Mun conducted himself in a natu-
rally easy-going and relaxed manner, as one would expect among
people of equal status who are all well-acquainted. He was not
so stern and strict at such times. But his whole demeanor could
change dramatically according to the situation. He behaved quite
differently in one set of circumstances than he did in another,
treating each individual as a separate case. His disciples were con-
stantly amazed at the quickness and novelty of his responses to
the situations that emerged around him.
Ãcariya Mun used to tell the monks an amusing story about
his youth that illustrates his dynamic character. I shall retell it
here for it demonstrates the incredible changes that a person can
go through.
Back in the days when Ãcariya Mun was still a young
layman, he used to compete in local folk singing contests known
as maw lam. One day he attended a large fair in a neighboring
village where thousands of people had gathered. Suddenly, he felt
emboldened to get up on stage and sing in competition with a