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4 Early Studies in Meditation "Stopping the mind is the essence — it is both the path and the fruit of Nirvana. Even those who practise charity and keep the Precepts are not as close to Nirvana as those whose mind is at a standstill." (Phramongkolthepmuni) It was only in retrospect that Candasaro realized that if he had continued to study and attained a high degree of scholarship, the Sangha authorities would surely have recruited him to work in an academic capacity to the detriment of his meditation practice. From that time onwards Candasaro devoted himself entirely to the study of meditation. He became a wandering bhikkhu and practiced 'dhutanga' for self-purification, leaving the comforts of a fixed abode behind. He requested a forest umbrella (klod) from his aunt, under which to sleep, and refused to accept one from anyone else. He wished her to receive the merit arising from this offering, to repay his debt of gratitude to her. He left for the provinces, returned after a short period, and gave away the umbrella to another bhikkhu. Later he made a second trip, and again received an umbrella from his aunt. Eventually, after several months of such practice, he concluded that there must be a better way to gain the Truth taught by Lord Buddha — a way presently lacking which would make meditation easier to learn and accessible to all people. 1. from ibid. p.8