2
The Middle Years
i
n the early years when Ãcariya Mun first began wandering
dhutanga, he started in the northeastern province of Nakhon
Phanom. From there he traveled across the provinces of
Sakon Nakhon and Udon Thani, finally reaching Burma, where
he stayed for awhile before returning to Thailand by way of the
northern province of Chiang Mai. Staying briefly there he then
traveled into Laos, practicing the ascetic way of life in Luang
Prabang and later Vientiane before eventually returning to Loei
province. From this northeastern locale, he wandered by stages
down to Bangkok, spending a rains retreat at Wat Pathumwan
monastery. Following that retreat period, he took up residence in
Sarika Cave, remaining there for several years. Only upon leav-
ing Sarika Cave did he return to the Northeast region.
During all those years of extensive wandering, he almost
always traveled alone. On only a few occasions was he accom-
panied by another monk, and even then they soon parted com-
pany. Ãcariya Mun always practiced with a single-minded resolve,
which kept him aloof from his fellow monks. He invariably felt
it more convenient to wander dhutanga alone, practicing the
ascetic way of life on his own. Only after his heart had been suffi-