tice, could have expected to receive expert advice, for meditation
was his field of greatest expertise. His knowledge and understand-
ing of every aspect of meditation were unparalleled. Every facet of
his Dhamma teaching benefited from his lyrical presentation, cap-
tivating the listener and demonstrating an eloquence which no
one today can equal. His comments on moral virtue were engross-
ing to his listeners, while his discourses on the different levels of
samãdhi and wisdom were exceptional. His audience became so
absorbed that, being satiated in the Dhamma they heard, their
feeling of satisfaction often lasted for days thereafter.
DURING THE PERIOD when Ãcariya Mun pushed himself relentlessly
toward realization of the Supreme Dhamma, he lived alone in
mountain caves or forest retreats. As he waged an all out assault
on the kilesas, his efforts were directed inward at all times. Only
during hours of sleep did he relax this persistent introspection.
Mindfulness and wisdom were his constant companions through-
out that exhaustive investigation to uproot the kilesas. He carried
on a continuous dialogue with the kilesas, mentally attacking and
counterattacking them with mindfulness and wisdom. His sheer
determination to go beyond dukkha was the catalyst for these con-
versations, which were not rhetorical encounters. Rather, they
were internal contemplations using mindfulness and wisdom to
rebut the kilesas. No matter how they tried to evade him, no matter
what tricks they used to rebuff or entangle him, Ãcariya Mun
used mindfulness and wisdom at each step of the way to follow
their movements, and to corner and crush them into submission –