Biography of Acharn Mun(in Thai อาจารย์มั่น)
Acharn Mun(1870-1949) was born on Thursday, 20th January 1870 at Khambong Village, a farming village in Ubomratchathani Province, Northeastern Thailand. He was a son of the Kankaew family. Kamduang was his father and Jan was his mother. He was named Mun, meaning “firm”. Mun was the eldest among seven brothers and sisters. He was small in stature and had a fair complexion. He was, from childhood, agile and full of vigor, intelligent and resourceful.
At fifteen, Mun was ordained as a novice in the village monastery of Khambong. He spent two years as a novice and then disrobed on the request of the father. He however resolved that sooner or later he would return because of an unshakable confidence in a chaste life. Later, at the age of twenty-two, he was ordained as a monk at Wat Srithong in Ubonratchathani with Venerable Phra Ariyakavi as his preceptor, Venerable Phrakru Seetha as the announcing Teacher and Venerable Phrakru Prachak Ubonguna as the Instructing Teacher during the Ordination Procedure.
He was given the name Bhuridatto (Blessed with Wisdom). After his ordination he went to practice vipasana with Achan Sao Kantasilo at Wat Liab, and completed a primary practice focused on good manner for monks and rukes for teachers and preceptors to the satisfaction of his teacher.
The young monk Mun, fortified with the theory for his life in the monkhood, then wandered through Thailand, Burma, and Laos, dwelling for most part of the time in the forest, to engage in meditation practice with his teacher, Phra Archan Sao Kantasilo(1861-1941).
Archan Mun wandered throughout the northeastern part of Thailand from the beginning of his practice until he had achieved a necessary strength of mind and calmness. This level of practice helped him to resist the interest and temperaments characteristic of his ultra dynamic mind as well as external stimuli. He then journeyed up and down between the central part and the northeastern part of Thailand.
He stayed for a rains retreat at Wat Pathumvanaran where he regularly went for instruction and advice from His Eminence Phra Upaligunupamachriya(Sirichando) at Wat Boromnivas in Bangkok. After the rainy retreat, he journeyed to LOpburi province and stayed at various caves such as Phaiwang Cave, Mount Khao Phra Ngam, and Singto(Lion) Cave.
In all three places he increased his efforts regularly to develop his meditation and profound insight. A major site of his practice was the Sarika Cave in Khao Yai(Big Mount) in the province of Nakhon Nayok, where he stayed for three years. His followers belived he attained the highest enlightenment.
Archan Mun passed away in 1949 at Wat Suddhavasa, Sakhon Nakhon Province. His bone fragments, which later became relics including his hairs, were distributed after the cremation ceremony. At present, his teachings and the mode of practice are recognized as a good model that attracting numerous people who seek enlightenment.
Source: Path to Enlightenment : A guide to meditation techniques practiced in Thailand
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