inappropriate in any way, either in terms of the subject matter or
the style in which it was written, I do sincerely apologize. I hope
you will make allowances for my forest background, for it’s dif-
ficult to transform the natural character of a forest monk into
something eloquent and sophisticated. Though I have attempted
to present every aspect of Ãcariya Mun’s life in a suitable, accu-
rate fashion, I must confess that my own disorderly tendencies are
hopelessly incurable. In writing a book of this nature, there will
inevitably be some inconsistencies that may confuse the reader –
which is why I have been at pains to stress my shortcomings.
Before the life history of Ãcariya Mun could come to a suc-
cessful conclusion in my own mind, I had to carefully contemplate
the whole matter for a long time. This prompted me to go around
recording the recollections of many ãcariyas who have lived with
him at various times in the past. To this I added my own mem-
ories of what he told me about his life. It took me many years to
gather all the strands of his story and weave them into a creditable
whole. Be that as it may, my often confusing style of writing, plus
the fact that so many events appear out of sequence, will proba-
bly confound the reader.
I accept full responsibility for everything in this biography.
As I feel somewhat guilty about my own incompetence in this
endeavor, I shall be glad to entertain your critical comments. At
the same time, I shall be pleased to receive any complimentary
remarks with the satisfaction of knowing that this book has been
of some small benefit to those who read it. May all the merit
gained from this work be fully credited to the readers and to those
who helped to make the book possible. Should I deserve a portion
by virtue of being the author, I ask to share it with every one of
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
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