Ven. Acariya Mun - Spiritual Biography + photos

ONCE ÃCARIYA MUN had settled in the monastery at Ban Nong
Pheu, he was contented to encourage the community of dhutanga
monks practicing under his tutelage. As many as twenty to thirty
of them joined him there during retreat periods. Despite the
increasing numbers, however, conflicts, that might have caused
him concern, seldom arose. Each monk was determined to focus
diligently on his own practice. An harmonious sense of frater-
nity existed among the monks who all lived together in unity of
purpose. Peacefully walking together to the village for alms each
morning – they were an impressive sight. A long bench had been
constructed in the village where the monks sat to chant a bless-
ing after receiving offerings of food. Later, back in the monastery,
they ate together in silence, seated in rows according to seniority.
Once they finished eating, each monk washed his own bowl, dried
it thoroughly, replaced its cloth covering, and put it neatly away.
When their morning duties were completed, they separated, each
monk walking into the extensive forest surrounding the monas-
tery to find a secluded meditation track where he concentrated on
his meditation – walking or sitting, as he preferred. Remaining in
the forest until the afternoon chores began at four P.M., they then
returned from their meditation sites to help each other sweep
the monastery grounds clean. Once they finished sweeping, they
worked together to carry water from the well to fill the various
water barrels – water for drinking, water for washing feet, or water
for washing their alms bowls. A quick bath at the well was fol-
lowed by a resumption of meditation. On nights when no meeting
had been called, they continued to practice as usual until it was
time to retire. Normally, Ãcariya Mun called a general meeting
once every seven days, though any monk, who wished personal