5
Unusual Questions, Enlightening Answers
u
pon arriving in Bangkok, Ãcariya Mun went to stay at
Wat Boromaniwat monastery, following the instructions
telegrammed from Somdet Phra Mahã Wirawong. Before
he departed for Udon Thani, many people came to see him at
Wat Boromaniwat with questions. Some of these questions were
rather unusual, so I have decided to include them.
Question: “I understand that you maintain only one rule
instead of the full 227 monastic rules that all other monks keep.
Is that true?”
Ãcariya Mun: “Yes, I maintain only the one rule.”
Question: “Which one do you maintain?”
Ãcariya Mun: “My mind.”
Question: “So, you don’t maintain all 227 rules?”
Ãcariya Mun: “I maintain my mind by not allowing any
wrong thoughts, speech, or actions that would violate the prohi-
bitions laid down by the Buddha, be they 227 in number or even
more than that. Those who doubt whether or not I maintain the
227 monastic rules can think and say what they please. As for me,