# I'm 888 months old

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-age-in-months-eight-eight-eight
- Themes: humour, ageing, Singapore
- Life situations: getting older

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Bored of turning 74, he counts age in months — 888 — an auspicious number in Singapore, and jokes about number plates.

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

I count my age in months. It's much more impressive. And if you quickly work it out, what is 74 years in months? It's 888. Oo. Yeah. In a place like Singapore. 8 AAA. Wow. That's really apicious. It's the most auspicious number. If anybody can get a car with a number plate 88 AA, it cost a fortune. Is that true, Eddie? Yes, I'm 88 in a couple of months time

## Teaching point

Even ageing can be played with lightly.

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

Bored of saying he's 74, Ajahn Brahm counts in months: 888, wonderfully lucky in Singapore. Asked by a stern official to prove who he was, he said he'd spent 45 years trying to find out. She didn't laugh. Play with ageing and bureaucracy lightly. Who we really are is a deeper question than any ID card.

## Source

- [Relax the Mind | Ajahn Brahm | 13 June 2025](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_HZAqnmAYM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 59:08 to 59:54: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_HZAqnmAYM&t=3548s