two renowned elders as high-spirited youths having a good time,
which we can then compare with our usual image of them as
absolutely amazing monks who completely renounced the world.
Although Ãcariya Mun preferred to keep to the present,
rarely speaking about the past, he liked to sing the praises of
Chao Khun Upãli’s cleverness from time to time. On one occa-
sion, when they were discussing the story of Lord Vessantara,^18
he asked Chao Khun Upãli about the mother of Lady Madrï, a
character in the story. He hadn’t seen her name mentioned in
the scriptures, and thought perhaps he had missed it. Chao Khun
Upãli’s response was immediate:
“What, you’ve never seen or heard of Madrï’s mother?
Everyone in town knows about her. Where’ve you been looking
that you haven’t come across her yet?”
Admitting that he hadn’t come across her name in the
scriptures, Ãcariya Mun wondered where it was mentioned.
“Scriptures? What scriptures? What about that loudmouth
Mrs. Op who lives in the big house at the crossroads on the way
to the monastery?”
Ãcariya Mun was puzzled. He couldn’t recall any mention
of a monastery in the story. Which crossroads and what monas-
tery was he referring to.
“You know, Madrï’s mother whose house is right next to
yours. How could you not know Madrï and her mother? How pit-
iful – Madrï and her mother live in your own home village and
you don’t even recognize them. Instead, you go searching in the
scriptures. I feel embarrassed for you.”
The moment Chao Khun Upãli said that Madrï and her
mother lived in his home village, Ãcariya Mun caught on and was
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
#1