Buddhist Monks - Ajahn Taungrut - Continued

Continued from Page 1 - Buddhist Monks - Ajahn Taungrut

His Krooba Ajahn Monk repeated this two or three times in a similar manner. Fearing further reprimands from his teacher, Monk Tahn Taungrut took leave and returned to meditate for a few days. Taking into consideration how his teacher spoke to him, he reflected on what the best thing to do would be. Once he thought it through he went back to pay respects again.

"Excuse me Venerable sir, where are you going to have me spend pansa this year? It's already July, so please give the matter some consideration."
Buddhist Monk Luang Pu Mun sat and focused his mind internally, then said, "Pra Bot Cave, Tahn Taung. Go and stay at Pra Bot Cave, alright?"
"Pra Bot Cave! Everyone who goes and stays there dies. If they don't die they go mad. They become crippled. That's what they say. How can you send me there to stay? What will protect me?"
"The four Brahma Vihเras: ‘This is what should be done....’ Can you handle it, Tahn Taung?"
"Yes sir."
"O.K. That's the spirit. May your practice progress, Tahn Taung."

That pansa there was no choice but to go stay at Pra Bot Cave. He stayed in the cavern, meditating in solitude. If he heard the sound of owls calling each other he'd lay down to sleep. The forest birds signalled the beginning of a new day when they left to look for food, calling out to each other, " Jai jai". Emerging from the cave he'd walk cross-country through the mist about four kilometres and then some before he reached the place for going on alms round. If he walked briskly he could get there in an hour. Walking slowly, it took longer than that.
Time rolled by until the full moon of September. Traditionally on full moon days the villagers would go to the monastery to make merit. It was a bright clear night as Venerable Taungrut sat in meditation inside the cave. At that moment there occurred a loud noise-- loud crashing sounds. Fear began to arise. What could those possibly be stomping down the mountainside towards him? Whatever they were, when they reached the mouth of the cave they jumped down, grabbed each other and began to wrestle.

Their deafening yells reverberated throughout the mountain and it shook as if it were about to collapse. Monk Venerable Taungrut thought he'd go and have a look to see what was making the noise. He almost went. Then he thought, "If I go out there I'll probably die just like all the others in the stories I've heard. Further more, whatever they're doing, that's their own business. Whether it's an animal, a ghost, or an evil spirit--that's not my business. I came here to meditate, so I'll just carry on with my practice. We don't have to have anything to do with each other." Once he considered it in this way he could continue on focusing his mind. But every hair was standing on end. He sat there watching his mind. From that moment on Venerable Monk Taungraut's meditation became truly accomplished. The Dhamma gushed forth.

As the Dhamma arose so did an irresistible desire to teach the Buddhist Dhamma, so he sat there all alone giving a Dhamma talk. For seven days and seven nights he continued on. Even if someone had tried to sew his mouth shut, the needle probably would have broken. Or else his mouth would have ripped. He was proclaiming the dispensation of the Lord Buddha. He thundered against the corrupt monks of his time-- especially those who abused positions of power. It wasn't enough just to teach within the borders of Thailand, so as he taught his words reached foreign lands as well: Malaysia, England, and other western countries. The Buddhist Dhamma teachings flowed forth. Each day he only ate three bites of food: one for the Buddha, one for the Dhamma and one for the Sangha. He taught untiringly, with no need of sleep. Completely alone, he gave Buddhist Dhamma talks day and night like a maniac, getting thinner all the time.

"Tahn Ajahn, are you feeling sick?", a layman asked him on almsround.
"No."
"Are you able to eat alright?"
"Just fine."

Suspicious, the layman thought to himself, "I can't believe that if he's able to eat that he's not sick. He's so thin his eyes have sunken deeply. I'd better follow him and have a look."
The man secretly followed Venerable Monk Taungrut back, and sure enough he saw the monk eat just three mouthfuls of food: one for the Buddha, one for the Dhamma and one for the Sangha. The layman then protested, "How can you tell me you have no problem eating, that you're not sick? You only eat three bites! You're so thin your eyes are hollow and empty. Why did you deceive me?"

Listening to the man, Monk Tahn Ajahn reconsidered. With his hair standing on end, he suddenly realized, "I misled him", and he returned to focusing awareness on his citta. From that time on his heart had reached fulfilment, but he still had this desire to give Dhamma talks. He eagerly awaited the end of the pansa, so he could go tell Luang Pu Mun. It was only two days after the end of pansa before he arrived to see his teacher and recount all his experiences. He described the various states of mind that had occurred and all that had taken place.
Once he finished telling his story, Luang Pu Mun concluded,
"Mm. That's good, Tahn Taung. Your citta is now at the same level as my own. Now you can teach, Venerable Taung. Teach to your heart's content. Uncover your platter of rice for all to see. Teach the Buddhist Dhamma. There's now no need to fear teaching. Reveal it all--just as if you were serving a feast."

From that point on, Tahn Ajahn Taungrut wandered about looking for situations to teach the Buddhist Dhamma. Around the villages of Tahnton and Poojan there were large communities and large audiences for his Buddhist Dhamma talks. At that time he became a constant companion of Luang Pu Sao. He felt a debt of gratitude to his teacher for all he'd given him. Whenever Luang Pu Sao asked him to accompany him, he'd go. Wherever he was asked to stay, he'd stay.

Having gone to Ubon, Luang Pu Sao requested Tahn Ajahn Taungrut to spend the pansa at Seetuan, saying, "There are many good people there. There are many bad as well." Until Luang Pu Sao's passing away, Tahn Ajahn Taungrut attended on and served him.
When I later asked the Buddhist Monk Tahn Ajahn Taungrut about his practice experiences during that 10th pansa in Pra Bot Cave, the answer was brief.

"It was like I had climbed to the top of the tallest tree. There was no where else to go."
"How would you describe the citta of a person who had finished their spiritual work?"
"Sati-passaddhi: Mindfulness and tranquillity. Sati is ever-present. The deep peace of passaddhi is ever-present. In the citta there are no thoughts of harming. It's just like a water buffalo that has been trained to plow the rice paddies. When it's time to turn around it turns by itself. You don't have to pull on its rope much. For anyone who's cared for their citta to this extent...the citta then takes care of itself."