In times of severe illness, dhutanga monks are sure to exam-
ine the resultant pain. It’s considered an essential means of sharp-
ening up mindfulness and wisdom, thus honing their skills until
they are quick enough to keep pace with all mental activity –
thoughts that are inevitably bound up with physical and mental
pain. Any monk showing signs of anxiety or uneasiness when
ill is considered a failure within the circle of practicing monks.
Mentally, his samãdhi and wisdom are insufficient to sustain him
in a time of crisis. Lacking mindfulness, his practice is unbecom-
ing and unreliable. This doesn’t fit with a monk’s obligation to
stockpile mindfulness and wisdom as the weapons of choice for
protecting himself in his battles with pain of all kinds. Those
who have developed the qualities needed to remain mindfully self-
controlled, never showing signs of agitation, are considered truly
praiseworthy examples of the warrior spirit typical of practicing
monks. In critical situations, they stand their ground – and fight.
The benefits of this to their meditation are self-evident. Those
good results are also noticed by their fellow monks, all of whom
greatly admire a fighting mentality. The others have faith that, no
matter how overwhelming the pain is, a dhutanga monk will never
be defeated – even in death. That is, his mindfulness and wisdom
will never accept defeat, for they are the investigative tools he uses
to search for a safe, trouble-free way to go beyond when it finally
becomes impossible to keep body and soul together.
Anyone practicing Dhamma, who arrives at the Truth pro-
claimed by the Lord Buddha, is absolutely certain of its universal
validity. Confronted with the enemy, he will never accept defeat
and withdraw his forces. He is obligated to fight to the death. If
it so happens that his body cannot withstand the pressure – he
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
#1