no resemblance to the hill tribes people of that region, quietly sit-
ting at the side of the path, holding a tray of food offerings up
to his head. It seemed impossible! Ãcariya Chob was so flabber-
gasted by what he saw that he got goose flesh and his hair stood
on end. He forgot all about being hungry and exhausted. He was
wholly astounded to see a kind-looking gentleman sitting beside
the path about twenty-five feet ahead waiting to offer him food.
As he approached, the gentleman spoke to him:
“Please, sir, rest here awhile and eat something to relieve
your hunger and fatigue. Once you’ve regained your strength, you
can continue on. You’re sure to reach the other side of this vast
wilderness some time today.”
Ãcariya Chob stopped, put down what few requisites he was
carrying, and prepared his alms bowl to receive the food that the
gentleman was offering. He then stepped forward and accepted
the food. To his amazement, as soon as the food items were placed
in his bowl, a sweet fragrance seemed to permeate the whole sur-
rounding forest. The amount of food he was offered by the gentle-
man was exactly the right amount to satisfy his needs. And it had
an exquisite taste that was absolutely indescribable. This might
seem like an extravagant exaggeration, but the truth of what his
senses perceived at that moment was so amazing as to be virtu-
ally impossible to describe.
When the gentleman finished putting food in his bowl,
Ãcariya Chob asked him where his house was located. He said
that he had been walking for three nights and four days now but
had yet to see a single human habitation. The gentleman pointed
vaguely upward, saying his house was over there. Ãcariya Chob
asked what had prompted him to prepare food and then wait
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
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