7
The Legacy
i
n the period following his cremation, many of the monks in
Ãcariya Mun’s lineage remained distraught as they contin-
ued to feel the loss of their one reliable refuge in life. Like
kites with their strings broken, drifting at the mercy of the winds,
they wandered off in all directions. Their spirits depressed, they
felt like small, helpless orphans who had lost both parents. Con-
sequently, the circle of practicing monks in Ãcariya Mun’s line-
age found itself quite unsettled in the immediate aftermath of his
funeral. By the time they eventually began to regroup, they had
all realized the harmful effects of being without a good teacher.
The passing away of an outstanding ãcariya is never a small matter.
Invariably it affects the community of practicing monks in a very
serious way – shaking them like an earthquake to their very foun-
dations. If his disciples have already established themselves firmly
in the practice, possessing the mental fortitude to hold their own
while helping to sustain their fellow monks, then the long-term
effects will not be so adverse. Whether it’s a family leader, a social
leader, a business leader, a government leader, or a leader in any
branch of the community of monks – the death of a good leader is
always felt as a huge loss. Since it is ultimately unavoidable, those
subordinates who depend on their leadership should earnestly