Mun preferred to wander off into the countryside, seeking seclu-
sion where he could practice the way of Dhamma in a manner
most suitable to his character. He liked to stay in the vicinity of
Ban Nong Nam Khem village, which was located about seven
miles from the town of Udon Thani. He lived for long periods in
this area because it had pleasant forests that were conducive to
meditation practice.
His presence in Udon Thani during the rains retreat greatly
benefited both the monks and the general public from the town
and surrounding districts. As news of his arrival spread, monks
and lay people from the area gradually began to converge on the
monastery where he resided in order to practice with him and
hear his Dhamma. Most of these people had been disciples of his
from the time he lived in the area before going to Chiang Mai.
Upon receiving word that he had returned, they were overjoyed
at the prospect of seeing him again, offering him alms, and hear-
ing his advice. He was not very old yet, being only about 70 then.
He was still able to get around without much trouble. By nature
he tended to be quick and agile anyway, always ready to get up
and move on, never staying too long in one place. He much pre-
ferred to wander with no specific destination, hiking through the
mountains and forests where life was peaceful and undisturbed.
Past Lives
In Udon Thani, just as they had in other places, the local people
often came to Ãcariya Mun with questions. While some of their
questions were very similar to the ones that he had received