Taking several lay people along, the monks made the climb
to the summit where they found a beautiful, spacious cave, exactly
as Ãcariya Mun had predicted. The air was clear and the ambi-
ance pleasant and inviting. The monks were so pleased with their
discovery that they didn’t want to leave. They would have pre-
ferred to remain there indefinitely, practicing meditation. Unfor-
tunately, the cave was so high up and so far from the nearest vil-
lage that they had no place to go for almsround. When the food
they brought was nearly exhausted, they had to come back down
to the cave where Ãcariya Mun resided. Upon their return, he
asked them about their impressions.
“Well, how was the cave, nice and inviting? Seeing an image
of it in my meditation, I felt it was so beautiful and spacious that
I wanted you all to go up and take a look. I was sure you’d like it.
When we first arrived, I didn’t think to examine this mountain to
see what’s here. When investigating it a few days later, I discov-
ered how many strange, amazing things it contains. That cave you
went to is constantly protected by terrestrial devas. Anyone acting
improperly there can expect to feel the consequences. When I
sent you up there, I forgot to mention that the cave is protected
by devas and to warn you to restrain yourselves and behave prop-
erly the whole time. I didn’t want you to be loud and noisy, which
is unacceptable behavior for a monk. I was afraid that if the devas
protecting the cave were displeased, they might cause you discom-
fort by precipitating something unpleasant.”
The monks informed Ãcariya Mun that they’d prefer to
spend a longer time in the cave; but he insisted that, no matter
how attractive the place was, it would not be possible to live there
because no food was available. Ãcariya Mun spoke of the cave in
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
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