# Bangkok walking meditation — my name from miles away

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-bangkok-distant-name-in-ear
- Themes: meditation, humour, thailand, monastic life
- Life situations: meditation, monastery

## Synopsis (editorial 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.

## 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

## Teaching point

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

## 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.

## Source

- [Relieve Tension by Meditating - Armadale Meditation Group | Ajahn Brahm | 11 July 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEVDDO0Y2xk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:06:03 to 1:06:51: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEVDDO0Y2xk&t=3963s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 29 March 2025](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVCn9FaxPN0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:05:51 to 1:08:03: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVCn9FaxPN0&t=3951s
- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 30 December 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoURx2wxH-U) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:02:52 to 1:04:51: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoURx2wxH-U&t=3772s
- [Emboldening the Mind with Fizz & Sparkle (5/14) | Ajahn Brahm & Venerable Canda | 8 December 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxK-FsOhmOE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 35:01 to 36:50: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxK-FsOhmOE&t=2101s
- [Word of the Buddha (Part 2) | Ajahn Brahm | 8 December 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZGNOEFC6_Q) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 29:16 to 29:47: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZGNOEFC6_Q&t=1756s