# Cassius Clay's autograph

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-cassius-clay-autograph-white-city
- Themes: kindness, childhood, gratitude
- Life situations: remembering childhood, meeting heroes

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

At 11, Ajahn Brahm heard that Cassius Clay — later Muhammad Ali — was training at the White City in London, near his home. He and a mate waited outside; when some huge men arrived he asked 'Any of you Cassius Clay?' and asked for an autograph. Clay was kind to the little kid — no cameras, no press — and invited them in to watch him spar.

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

I remember even seeing the great Cassius Clay, Muhammad Ali, I met him once - I got his autograph when I was 11, when he was in London. Really nice guy, but after a while, he was the great boxer, Cassius Clay, and people would come up to him and just [gestures boxing stance] when he was in his 60s or something. He couldn't do that anymore. But if you find satisfaction in your physical prowess, it's a lot of suffering when that starts to disappear

## Teaching point

Told among the 'nice encounters' of his youth, and in answer to a question about whether watching boxing is bad kamma.

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

At eleven, Ajahn Brahm asked a group of huge men which one was Cassius Clay, got his autograph, and was invited in to watch him spar. He treasures memories like that, and the great concerts of his youth. When good things end, he never cries. When something passes, say thank you for the time you had.

## Source

- [Word of the Buddha (part 2) | Ajahn Brahm | 8 January 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IdrKuwJtCg) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 27:16 to 27:52: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IdrKuwJtCg&t=1636s

Other tellings of this story:

- [The Nature of Suffering | Ajahn Brahm | 10 February 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvMmZICc1Y) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 13:20 to 14:42: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvMmZICc1Y&t=800s
- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 18 May 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My6WwoWKibQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:21:56 to 1:22:15: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My6WwoWKibQ&t=4916s
- [DN9 Potthapada Sutta - States of Consciousness (part 2 of 2) | Ajahn Brahm | 24 June 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcQ0IBin9Ik) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:16:22 to 1:16:42: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcQ0IBin9Ik&t=4582s