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asika Thongsuk had been chosen because it opened onto the house's flat roof and was cool and free of mosquitoes in the evening. Upāsika Thongsuk's usual way of explaining meditation was to have them focus their mind gently at the centre of the body, visualizing a crystal ball while repeating the mantra 'Samma-Arahant' silently to themselves. Even these simple instructions, at first seemed quite difficult to follow. Whenever Chandra closed her eyes and wanted to let go of the things of the world suddenly she found her mind filled with thoughts of work. She would peep at her mistress to make sure she wasn't thought to be neglecting her domestic duties. Sometimes it would be thoughts of the fam- ily she had left behind or images of the open fields of Nakorn Chaisri that bothered her. "Thought is the greatest hindrance to meditation," explained Upāsika Thongsuk with understanding. Back at work, Chandra subsequently divided her time more strictly. She would try finish her chores more quickly each day so that she would have the time to sit for meditation alone. She had to sit in se- cret the most of the time out of consideration for her mistress who might otherwise accuse her of shirk- ing. She slipped meditation into the gaps between her household chores. Nonetheless, it was hard for her mind to become unified when she had to look over her shoulder each time she sat for meditation. Her mind could not put aside the worry of being caught meditating. Even so, Chandra never dimin- ished her perseverance and never complained. The concepts of boredom, disillusionment or despair seemed alien to her. Her urgent wish to find her father, kept her firmly persistent to train herself in