Stories for feeling out of place
3 Buddhist wisdom stories for feeling out of place from Buddhist teachers, each linked to the original talk.
- Dress code: long dressStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Ajahn Brahm is invited to a state dinner with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Parliament House at the time of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, under John Howard. He can't…
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Or going to that state dinner at Parliament House in Canberra. How many of you been to a state dinner? I have. Could I eat? No, because I can't eat in the evening. Still went though. That beautiful story of how I got the invitation. That was when John Howard, he was the prime minister when Queen Elizabeth for the Melbourne. Is it Commonwealth Games? Yeah. I remember Commonwealth Games. So I went there that one, for the state dinner. I wasn't competing in the Commonwealth Games, although really I should have done the high jump. It's very easy. If you can levitate, you know, just high jump, which should be pretty easy. [laughter] But then, then when you got the invitation, got this big, this is like big invitation dinner with Queen Elizabeth. Woah. And so we've got the card. I think I still got it somewhere. I have to search for it somewhere. But anyway, you are invited to dinner at State Parliament House with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, requested company of the Venerable Ajahn Brahmavamso. Wow, how can you refuse that? Until you see the dress code. [Laughter] This is true. I told this story many times, but it's a wonderful story. The first item for dress code, because you can't just walk in there. You gotta have, it's a formal dinner. Crikey. So, the first option of dress was called a black tie. I've never been to a state dinner before. I don't know what they wear. Is that what you wear? Just a tie. No trousers, no shoes. [laughter] It's code. Code means a jacket, nice shoes and trousers and stuff. I can't go wearing that. I haven't got one. And the next, the next option was military uniform. Oh come on, I'm a Buddhist monk, I'm a pacifist, you can't have a military uniform. So I was losing hope. Until I saw the third option. That's right. Long dress. [laughter] So, I walked up in long dress. It's the only thing I had. And then, the security grabbed me. They did. [laughter] They said, "Are you supposed to be in here, sir?" And I got out my invitation. "Yes, I'm supposed to be in here." "Okay, go in."
- Halloween on the London UndergroundStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: His brother puts him on the Tube toward the London Buddhist Society. The carriage fills with vampires, witches and ghosts — it is Halloween. For the first time in robes on the…
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When I was visiting my brother in London and after having lunch with him, then he put me on the underground train to actually to go to my next appointment. He paid the fair, gave me the ticket cuz I don't have any money. And so I paid a ticket and they sent me to the London Buddhist Society just know next to Victoria. And when I got on that train, it was weird. I was the first one in my carriage. But then these vampires came on. [laughter] They're vampires. Really, I'm not exaggerating. about [snorts] five or six of them with long teeth and blood and just really weird clothing on. And then after they came on, then then came a few witches, [laughter] a few ghosts. What's going on? And then I remembered cuz it was it was Halloween's night. [clears throat] It was it was quite ordinary. But then I started thinking, you know, for the first time riding the underground trains dressed as a monk in a London, for the first time, I never felt odd wearing my robes. [laughter] And I think many of them thought, [laughter] now what are you dressed up as? I'm a monk. [laughter] And I really enjoyed that.
- Under a gynaecologist, and no pyjamasStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: On his last hospital stay, at Rockingham, Ajahn Brahm is admitted under a family-friend doctor who is a gynaecologist — his bed sign confuses the nurses. Told at reception he…
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That was about 26 years ago now. Yeah 26 years ago was the last time I went to hospital. It was in Rockingham Hospital. It's very interesting because the fellow who looked after me it's actually the secretary Gita's father. And he's a gynecologist. But because he knew me sort of he said oh let's… I'll take you in and I'll look after you. So, on the bed there was: Ajahn Brahm's doctor: dr Mendez, gynecologist. I do look weird enough wearing these robes. But being under a gynecologist, that was really cool. And all the nurses, “what, what are you?” good fun. But especially when you check in you know, you've got to check in first of all. The first question they asked me at the reception: “where's your pyjamas?” “monks don't have pajamas.” “but you've got to have pyjamas.” “but I don't have any!” “but you have to.” I said “listen. It's these robes or nothing. Take your choice.” and actually they let me wear my robes.