in front of us and bathing our hearts with the pure waters of
Dhamma.
Were I to attempt to describe each and every facet of Ãcariya
Mun’s knowledge and understanding, I would feel ashamed of my
own inadequacies in this regard – ashamed of being a forest monk
in appearance only, a phony who has somehow encroached upon
the sãsana. Through my own ignorance I might inadvertently
damage his excellent reputation, which should be preserved at all
costs. Although I stated at the beginning of the book that I in-
tended to write in the style of the Venerable Ãcariyas of antiquity,
who transcribed the lives of the Lord Buddha and his Arahant
disciples, I can’t help feeling embarrassed that I am not so gifted
as they were. Nevertheless, I have done the best I could. Should
this somewhat imperfect biography fall short of your expectations,
please be so kind as to forgive my shortcomings.
It is appropriate now to bring this biography to a close. If
the account I have written contains any inaccuracies or misrep-
resentations, I respectfully ask forgiveness of Ãcariya Mun who,
like a loving father, gave birth to my faith in Dhamma. May the
power of his all-encompassing love and compassion always bring
peace and happiness to people everywhere. May you all have
sufficient faith and resources of merit to follow in his footsteps,
practicing the Dhamma that he taught to your ultimate satisfac-
tion. May Thailand enjoy continual, uninterrupted prosperity
and remain free of enemies and natural disasters. And may the
Thai people remain untroubled by misfortune and hardship, for-
ever experiencing happiness and contentment in harmony with
the Buddhasãsana.
Should my presentation of Ãcariya Mun’s life be deemed
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
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