# You don't have to join — Cambridge Buddhist Society

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-cambridge-buddhist-society-dont-have-to-join
- Themes: Cambridge, Buddhism, openness, student life
- Life situations: finding community, university

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Cambridge societies fair: finds Buddhist Society stall like gold; wants to join; the person behind the counter says this is Buddhism — you don't have to join.

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

society's fair day where all the societies they had a stall at the University and you can join whatever Club you wanted to even fox hunting if you want to go fox hunting remember this is Cambridge University snobby place but as soon as I walked in I just I will never forget this experience they had Buddhist Society of Cambridge University I saw they had a store and to me that was like finding gold I never expected to have a Buddhist Society University so I went straight up to the counter said I want to join and the guy in front of the counter said look this is Buddhism you don't have to join

## Teaching point

The door that does not demand membership is the Buddhist one.

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

At Cambridge, young Ajahn Brahm found the Buddhist Society stall and rushed to join. The student behind it said: this is Buddhism, you don't have to join. He insisted on paying his pound anyway, and that student became a lifelong friend. Real welcome asks for nothing. Keep your doors open and free.

## Source

- [Living With Non-Buddhists | Ajahn Brahm | 21-01-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR0w_6F8xDs) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 18:44 to 19:25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR0w_6F8xDs&t=1124s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Why I Became a Monk | Ajahn Brahm | 28 March 2025](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-U28g_SVuc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 27:23 to 27:45: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-U28g_SVuc&t=1643s
- [Day 3 Morning talk on Stillness Nov 2013 Ajahn Brahm Retreat](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsU2mJ0_9us) (BSWA Retreats 2011-15 & Media) — watch from 31:36 to 32:06: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsU2mJ0_9us&t=1896s