Being Mindful Stories

Story · Ajahn Brahm

'Number one!'

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Living Without Blame | Ajahn Brahm | 05-12-2014

1 min read

Content note: rude gesture

The story — as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

the last time I went on arms round, this uh young Aussie guy saw us and gave me the one finger sign. Now, they gave you know, you know, you know the one finger sign. I'm not going to demonstrate it here, otherwise you may think that I'm doing this on purpose rather than just a demonstration for um educational purposes. So, they gave me the one finger sign. So there you had a choice again to be offended or to laugh or to even see if you can perceive it in a positive way. So I looked upon that and saying what he was really saying but he just got the finger the wrong wrong way round that we were number one Buddhism is the best. So that's where you have the choice and I exercise that choice not to get offended and interpret it. I mean, it's very unlikely that that was actually the truth, but it could have been.

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 34:34 (to 35:34)

A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

On alms round in Perth, a young man gave Ajahn Brahm the finger. He chose to read it as 'Buddhists are number one', with the wrong finger. Unlikely, he admits. But taking offence only hurts you, sometimes for years. Give the benefit of the doubt. People soon stop trying to offend someone who won't take it.

In brief (our summary)

On the monks' Saturday-morning alms round in Perth, a young Australian gave Ajahn Brahm the one-finger sign. He chose not to be offended: maybe the man was really saying the monks were number one — Buddhism is the best — and just held up the wrong finger. Very unlikely, he admits, but it could have been.

Teaching point

You choose whether to receive offence; when people can't offend you, they stop trying.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Living Without Blame | Ajahn Brahm | 05-12-2014 · 2014-12-07 · ▶ watch from 34:34 to 35:34 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions with machine-added punctuation; words left exactly as captioned. 'arms round' = alms round.

The narrative is Ajahn Brahm's own telling, quoted from the talk captions. The summary and reflection are Being Mindful Stories's editorial notes. Please credit the teacher and link the original talk. Markdown version

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