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Story · Ajahn Brahm

Bangkok walking meditation — my name from miles away

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Relieve Tension by Meditating - Armadale Meditation Group | Ajahn Brahm | 11 July 2023

1 min read

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

walking meditation uh this was in Bangkok many years ago that I heard this sound like it was a long distance away like miles away and it was it was my name no I don't promise another the name I'm known as now but the real name is Brahma wongsa and I heard this sound like from a really long distance brahmawang so Obama Wong so and I thought this was really weird because it felt so distant for me but then I just paid attention to it instead of my feet walking and I found out it was another mug was shouting in my ear hole

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 1:06:03 (to 1:06:51)

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

Doing walking meditation in Bangkok, Ajahn Brahm heard his name as if from miles away. It was another monk shouting into his ear: he was late for an appointment. That showed how quiet the mind can get. Try it: which part of your foot lifts first, which lands first? Get curious, and walking becomes joyful.

In brief (our summary)

On walking meditation in Bangkok years ago, Brahm hears his ordination name Brahmavamso as if from miles away. Paying attention, he finds another monk shouting it into his ear — sent to fetch him because he was late for appointments, but knowing not to yank a meditator out abruptly.

Teaching point

What feels cosmic is sometimes just someone kind shouting in your ear.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Relieve Tension by Meditating - Armadale Meditation Group | Ajahn Brahm | 11 July 2023 · 2023-07-13 · ▶ watch from 1:06:03 to 1:06:51 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

4 other tellings of this story

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'Brahma wongsa'/'Obama Wong'/'mug' = Brahmavamso / monk.

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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