skillful people do not have to resort to such testing. A
good person who is truly skillful in Dhamma can know
about others without having to test them.”Ãcariya Mun ended his talk to the monks on this note. I almost
fainted at the time, sitting there soaked with sweat. Surrendering
to him completely that night, I learned a lesson I’ve never forgot-
ten – never again did I dare to test him out. Had I been as severely
chastened about matters concerning my own practice as I was that
night about matters concerning Ãcariya Mun, then I would prob-
ably have transcended dukkha long ago. But, alas, I have never
been able to chasten myself to such good effect, which really ran-
kles me sometimes.
This was another issue that the monks discussed secretly
among themselves at their informal meeting, which I also attended.
Since this incident involved me personally, I’ve included it here
with the story about the cigarettes to highlight the principle that
the truth about the nature of Truth exists all around us every-
where, at all times – akãliko. All that’s required is that we practice
sincerely until we attain the Truth; then we will surely understand
the nature of that Truth, the fullest extent of our understanding
being conditioned only by the natural limitations of our inher-
ent abilities. This includes the intrinsic truths, or saccadhamma,
as well as all the various forms of extrinsic knowledge. Keep in
mind also that people differ in the type and degree of the inherent
good qualities they have developed through successive existences,
as well as the spiritual goals they have variously set for themselves.
But the primary results of magga, phala, and Nibbãna do not differ.
These results are the same for everyone who attains them.