Ven. Acariya Mun - Spiritual Biography + photos

though you are so sound asleep that you have no mindful aware-
ness of how your body tosses about, or how prolifically your sleep-
ing mind dreams. Going on your morning almsround, eating your
food, and relieving yourself: in all such basic duties you should
adhere strictly to the traditional practices of the Lord Buddha’s
Noble disciples. Never behave as though you lack proper training
in the Teaching and the Discipline. Always conduct yourself in
the manner of a true samaõa^27 with the calm, peaceful demeanor
expected of one who ordains as a disciple of the Lord Buddha.
This means maintaining mindfulness and wisdom in every pos-
ture as a way of eliminating the poisons buried deep within your
heart. Thoroughly investigate all the food you eat. Don’t allow
those foods that taste good to add poison to your mind. Even
though the body may be strengthened by food that’s eaten without
proper investigation, the mind will be weakened by its damaging
effects. By nourishing your body with food that is eaten unmind-
fully, you will, in effect, be destroying yourself with nourishment
that depletes your mental vitality.
A samaõa must never endanger his own well-being or the
well-being of others by shamefully accumulating kilesas; for, not
only do they harm him, but they can easily mushroom and spread
harm to others as well. In the view of the Buddha’s Noble dis-
ciples, all mental defilements are to be greatly feared. Utmost care
should be taken to ensure that the mind does not neglect to check
any outflow of the kilesas, for each one acts like a sheet of fire
destroying everything in its path. The Noble Dhamma, practiced
by all of the Lord Buddha’s Noble disciples, emphasizes scrupu-
lous self-discipline at all times and under all conditions – whether
walking, standing, sitting, lying down, eating or relieving oneself;