# “Take them out one by one”

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-abbot-placid-one-by-one
- Themes: difficult people, humour, wisdom
- Life situations: difficult colleague, disruptive child in class, conflict in a group

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Asked by Fr Frank Brennan how to deal with troublesome fundamentalists, Abbot Placid of New Norcia shocks the room with “Take them out one by one” — then explains: deal with them later, singly.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

I remember at a conference at UWA it was actually Father Frank Brennan was there, the Jesuit priest. He asked this question, he said, "I do work in universities." "I so easily get on with Buddhists, with Hindus, with Jewish, all religions." The only difficulty he has is with the born-again, the fundamentalists, the sort-of Charismatic Christians. He asked Abbot Placid, not me, he said "What would you be your advice to deal with the Charismatic Christians, the real troublemakers?" Abbot Placid said, "Take them out one by one." An outrageous thing for an abbot to say. [laughter] Ajahn: He had a great sense of humor. But then he said afterwards, "Deal with them later on, singly, one by one."

## Teaching point

Troublemakers are easier to reach privately, one at a time, away from the social setting that inflames them.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

Abbot Placid's 'take them out one by one' shocked the room until he explained: talk to troublemakers later, on their own. A crowd can inflame anyone. A quiet chat away from the audience lets you listen and connect. Don't script it, either; be kind and see what comes. A good sense of humour helps.

## Source

- [Dealing With Difficult People | Ajahn Brahm | 28 Nov 2008](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jniaUr_7438) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:02:36 to 1:03:29: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jniaUr_7438&t=3756s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Buddhism and Atheism | Ajahn Brahm | 16-04-2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRutmoPEWaQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 13:43 to 15:24: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRutmoPEWaQ&t=823s