# Where's the bog then?

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-cambridge-friend-wheres-the-bog
- Themes: humour, university, language
- Life situations: arriving somewhere new

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Ajahn Brahm's Cambridge neighbour, a Yorkshireman from Leeds (he says 'from Ukraine' then corrects), arrives at Emmanuel College and asks in a thick accent 'Where's the bog then?' — meaning the toilet — and is stared at as if from another planet.

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

One of these friends who was lived next door to me in the student accommodation from Ukraine, but he was actually from from Leeds, Yorkshireman. And as soon as he went into Cambridge University, Emmanuel College, the first thing he said when he arrived was, where's the bog then? If you understand, where's the toilet? But he said it in such a thick accent they looked at him and said, where are you from? You know, what sort of planet are you from?

## Teaching point

(Warm-up for the US 'restroom' meditation advice that follows.)

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

A Yorkshireman arriving at a grand Cambridge college asked in a thick accent, 'Where's the bog then?' People stared as if he came from another planet. Ajahn Brahm prefers the American word: restroom. When you're tired or stressed, that's exactly where to go. Find a quiet corner and rest your mind for a while.

## Source

- [Energy in our Body and Mind from Inspiration | Ajahn Brahm | 2 November 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWz3LAAj-J0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 57:24 to 58:01: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWz3LAAj-J0&t=3444s