I had attended on Ajahn Mun for six months at Pehr Forest when he received a letter from Venerable Chao Khun Dhammachedi, the abbot of Bodhisomphon Monastery and the chief administrative monk of the entire Northeast province of Udon Thani. In his letter, Chao Khun Dhammachedi, who had been a disciple of Ajahn Mun since his youth, invited him to return to Udon Thani and settle in that region for the benefit of his many disciples there. Ajahn Mun had been born in the Lao-speaking Northeast region of Thailand, of which Udon Thani is a part, and had spent many years wandering through its vast wilderness areas that border the Mekong River. Known colloquially as Issan, Thailand’s Northeast region was the homeland of many forest monks of that era and the birthplace of the Thai Forest Tradition.

By the time he received Chao Khun Dhammachedi’s letter, Ajahn Mun had been living and practicing in the northern province of Chiang Mai for over twelve years. Interestingly enough, a short time before the letter arrived, he had expressed a desire to return “home,” citing a wish to make his teachings available to a larger group of forest monks. Due to the remoteness of the northern region, only the most intrepid monks had managed to find him there, and their numbers were fairly small compared to the many devoted disciples he had left behind when he moved to the North. Ajahn Mun felt the time was right to reconnect with them in order to consolidate the Thai Forest Sangha and ensure its longevity as a beacon of hope for future generations.

In the past, Ajahn Mun had received many such invitations from Chao Khun Dhammachedi, but he had never answered those letters or accepted the requests. He was still considering this new request when Chao Khun Dhammachedi suddenly showed up at Pehr Forest to invite him in person. He had traveled from Udon Thani to the isolated region where Ajahn Mun lived to speak with him personally and thus give Ajahn Mun a chance to answer all his previous letters.

Ajahn Mun smiled and said, “I’ve received all the letters you sent, but I didn’t answer them because they were small and insignificant compared to your arrival here today. Now I am prepared to honor your request.”

Chao Khun Dhammachedi then formally invited Ajahn Mun to return to Udon Thani, a province where he had once lived many years before. He informed Ajahn Mun that he was offering this invitation on behalf of his disciples there, who missed his inspirational presence. Having received Ajahn Mun’s consent, Chao Khun Dhammachedi suggested they set a timetable for his trip to Udon Thani. Due to Ajahn Mun’s age and declining health, they deemed it wise that he travel the long distance by train. After a brief discussion, they decided on a departure date at the beginning of May that year—1940.

Ajahn Mun laughed like a lovable and distinguished elder statesman after the agreement was reached. Despite his obvious physical frailty, in that moment his appearance had an ageless quality. A master of the unconditioned Dhamma, he radiated warmth and vitality, while his demeanor displayed sublime elegance and grace. By his very presence, Ajahn Mun lent a clear sense of spiritual purpose to every occasion. People from all walks of life were naturally attracted to his aura of compassion and wisdom, which beckoned them to approach him and engage in conversation. These distinctive qualities are what I call “aging gracefully.”

People who never attempt to practice meditation usually feel distraught when they recognize the telltale signs of aging and decline in their bodies and minds. They are unsettled when facing a loss of physical strength that leaves them unable to manage their own affairs...