That night Mun and Jan both ended up missing the fair
they had so looked forward to attending.ALTHOUGH THEY WERE STILL in lay life at the time, such stories
about these two sages matching wits were fascinating to hear.
Despite the worldly nature of the conversation, it demonstrates
how clever people converse – each new retort captures the imagi-
nation. When Ãcariya Mun related stories about the two of them,
we became so absorbed listening that we could almost visual-
ize them as they spoke. There are lots of stories about these two
men matching wits, but a few examples should be enough to give
the reader an idea of what I mean. The clever ploys they used as
young men gave an early indication of their intelligence. Eventu-
ally entering the monkhood, both became great sages. Chao Khun
Upãli Guõýpamãcariya and Ãcariya Mun Bhýridatta Thera are
renowned throughout Thailand as present day sages of the high-
est caliber.
I have used the diminutives Jan and Mun because that’s how
Ãcariya Mun himself told the story to his students during relaxed
moments when there was a break in the usual tense, guarded
atmosphere the monks felt when they were around him. I sin-
cerely apologize to both of these esteemed venerables, and to the
readers as well, if anything I’ve written is deemed inappropriate.
Had I written the story in a more formal style, the meaning would
not have come across so effectively. Such familiarity implies a
mutual respect among peers and is commonly used between close
friends of all ages. Moreover, I find it convenient to write the
story the way I originally heard it. It allows us a glimpse of these