| Janet and I couldn't stay at Bhavana as a married | | | | family and a crowd of villagers had gathered and |
| couple, so a kind nun at the Bhavana Society | | | | were looking on as the abbot smoked one |
| referred Janet to a friend of hers; a Buddhist nun | | | | cigarette after another while calmly talking to her |
| living in Thailand, thinking that Janet might be | | | | for hours. Finally, the girl curled up on the |
| interested in going back to Southeast Asia. When | | | | courtyard pavement and went to sleep, and from |
| Janet got in touch with the nun, she invited Janet | | | | what I understand, was never troubled again. |
| to join both her and her abbot along with two | | | | My home monastery was Wat Pah Baan That, |
| other senior monks, on a trip they were planning | | | | home of unquestionably the most renowned |
| to California, Canada and Mexico. Janet could | | | | meditation monk now living in Thailand; Acharn |
| ordain during the trip, and then accompany them | | | | Maha Boowa. I didn't see too much of him as a |
| back to Thailand and live at Wat Phratat Foon | | | | layperson, and never spoke to him personally, but |
| with the nun, with Ajahn Lee, and Ajahn Luen. | | | | the little contact I did have was impressive. |
| So Janet was off, leaving me behind to dispose of | | | | Whenever I was near him, I experienced an |
| our belongings . . . again, which now included a | | | | unusual peaceful feeling, and he didn't affect me in |
| mobile home! The old Toyota was still running, | | | | any kind of a wearying way, as if everything was |
| amazingly, and I was able to sell it for about what | | | | as it should be. He always seemed tranquil and |
| I initially paid for it, and by some stroke of pure | | | | comfortable. I never seen him excited, but at |
| luck, I was able to sell the mobile home as well. I | | | | times he expressed annoyance if not downright |
| moved in with Bhante G again, for awhile, before | | | | anger, regarding some of his young monk's |
| heading for Thailand and Wat Pah Baan That. I | | | | behavior! You knew where you stood with him at |
| would be two hundred kilometers from where | | | | all times, and he knew what you were, intuitively. |
| Janet was staying, far enough away so that we | | | | He was about eighty-two at the time. |
| would see each other occasionally, but not close | | | | He was fearless as well. While I was there, a |
| enough to interfere with each other's practice (or | | | | cancerous tumor was discovered in his bowel that |
| raise eyebrows with the villagers). | | | | had invaded the lining of the bowel itself and was |
| Janet made herself right at home in Thailand, living | | | | spreading. A battery of doctors from Bangkok |
| out in the jungle with nothing but a small bamboo | | | | insisted that he undergo immediate surgery, but |
| platform and a mosquito net. Her meditation | | | | instead, and without the slightest concern as if he |
| deepened quickly, walking for hours back and | | | | only had a headache or something, he opted for |
| forth alongside her little "tent," and somehow | | | | some Chinese herbs relying on the power of his |
| protected from the cobras that roamed the | | | | meditation to take care of things. (He's still alive |
| gardens that she weeded. Walking meditation | | | | today, ten years later). |
| created more of a challenge to keep her mind | | | | The wat (monastery) was extremely busy. |
| concentrated than did sitting meditation, and when | | | | Thousands of lay supporters from all over |
| she could become concentrated while walking, her | | | | Thailand were constantly coming and going to |
| sitting became even more refined. | | | | make offerings and pay respects during the |
| Janet's abbot was enigmatic, and more - Janet | | | | holidays; it was not unusual to have ten-thousand |
| was certain he could read minds. She once tested | | | | attend the wat during a special occasion, with |
| him by thinking . . . if you can read my mind; walk | | | | busloads of people from Bangkok. |
| over here, right now, past where I am standing | | | | Acharn Maha Boowa spoke differently to monks |
| (she was standing in an area where he rarely | | | | than he did to lay people. With monks, he |
| entered. Well, in only a few minutes, you guessed | | | | discussed the intricacies of meditation and spiritual |
| it; there he was! | | | | training, but with lay people, he talked about things |
| One day, when I was visiting Janet's monastery, I | | | | that would make their lives better. He understood |
| watched him work some more magic. He was | | | | that they didn't have the time or inclination to go |
| talking to a seriously distressed young village | | | | deeply into meditation, even though some of the |
| woman who was supposedly possessed with | | | | lay people, surprisingly, became quite advanced in |
| some kind of psychosis - screaming and thrashing | | | | Samadhi within the context of a busy lay life. |
| about in the courtyard of the monastery. Her | | | | |