sible. After he had announced his decision and stated his reasons,
and there being no dissenting voices, the monks and laity who were
present all agreed to construct a stretcher suitable to carry him
on the long journey from Ban Nong Pheu to Sakon Nakhon. The
next day, a large crowd of lay supporters and monks brought the
stretcher to his hut, awaiting his departure. An immense sorrow
overcame everyone that day. They realized they were about to
lose somebody whom they so deeply cherished and revered. It was
a sorrow so great that local people and monks alike could barely
contain their emotions.
After the morning meal was over and everyone awaited in
readiness for the journey to start, emotions began to run high
in the crowd surrounding his hut as the local people, gathered
to see him off, gave vent to their despair one last time. Many
monks and novices swelled the crowd; they too felt the strain.
The deep sadness depressing their hearts slowly welled up, and
tears flowed quietly, dampening their cheeks. At that moment
Ãcariya Mun appeared, carried by a group of his senior disciples –
a moment of further heightened emotion. As the monks carried
him down the steps and placed him on the stretcher, the mixture
of affection, respect, and despair that everyone had kept bottled-
up inside freely poured out: men, women, monks, and novices
were no longer able to hold back their flood of tears. Onlook-
ers wept openly, expressing an unrestrained and deep sense of
sorrow. I myself could not avoid getting caught up in the despond-
ent mood pervading that sad occasion, despite the fact that I
was accompanying Ãcariya Mun when he left. The air filled with
sounds of weeping and crying. People called out, begging Ãcariya
Mun, “Please get better: Don’t pass away from this world leaving
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
#1