fronts the Truth of Dukkha – which is a genuine Truth. Mind-
fulness and wisdom are then fully up to the task. They remain
unshakable while being buffeted on all sides by an onslaught of
pain coming from every conceivable direction. In the midst of this
intense pain, they are able to narrow down the scope of their in-
vestigation until it focuses sharply on the very principles of Truth.
Such mental training employs the factors of mindfulness, wisdom,
faith, and effort, instilling them with greater strength and cour-
age. For precisely this reason, Ãcariya Mun liked to emphasize
the investigation of painful feelings to his disciples. When the
moment of truth arrives and the body is about to break up, one
should experience no fear of the agonizing pain that emerges at
that moment. Investigating as prescribed, the meditator clearly
perceives the true nature of both body and feelings, meaning that
he lives in comfort and dies triumphant. Such is the path of the
warrior who emerges truly victorious to become a superior indi-
vidual. He conquers himself, becomes superior within himself –
and is fully contented.
Ãcariya Mun was an exemplary teacher in every aspect of
his practice. His persistence, fortitude, courage, frugality, and all-
round ingenuity were outstanding qualities that put him in a class
of his own in the present day and age. It would be very difficult
for any of his disciples to surpass him. He possessed celestial hear-
ing and celestial sight, as well as paracittavijjã: the ability to com-
municate psychically with beings as diverse as animals, humans,
ghosts, devas, brahmas, yamas, and nãgas.^33 He could see not only
animals and humans with their gross physical bodies, but also
the subtle nonphysical forms of ghosts and devas. He knew the
intimate joys and sorrows of human beings and could read their
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
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