# Make-up before the cathedral sermon

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-cathedral-sermon-tv-makeup
- Themes: interfaith, inclusion, humour
- Life situations: interfaith relations, public speaking, belonging

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

The Dean of St George's Cathedral, Perth, invites Ajahn Brahm to give the Sunday eucharist sermon — the first time, the Dean says, a non-Christian has given the Sunday sermon in a cathedral in 2,000 years. Beforehand a TV channel insists on make-up; asked whether anyone ever refused, they name only Noel Gallagher of Oasis, so he submits while Ajahn Brahmali laughs at him. The cathedral is packed, standing room only, and nobody knows or cares who's Christian or Buddhist.

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

He invited me to give the sermon on a Sunday um eukarist I think it was called and he should know what he was talking about. He was a boss in that cathedral. He said it was the first time that a non-Christian had ever given the Sunday sermon in a cathedral in the world in 2,000 years. I thought, "Wow, that's really neat." Because of that, I got on TV beforehand and I remember just channel seven or nine, I forget which one it was. And when I went there to do an interview beforehand, you know what happened? They said, "You have to do makeup first of all." [laughter] And I said, "Was anybody ever refused?" And they said, "Some I think null Gallagher from uh some pop group." Oasis. Oasis. Okay. Yeah, he's the only one who refused makeup and I didn't really want to be put in the same category. So, they did quick makeup and the worst part of that I remember was Ajan Bardi was accompanying me that weekend and he was laughing his head off making sides of the [laughter] really mean to me and I forgave him. It was good fun. But anyway, just as a result of that, we did this this big um talk over in St. George's Cathedral and that was I really remember that for a long time because the place was packed and it was standing room only in the aisles everywhere and that the point was no one knew who was a Christian, who was a Buddhist and no one really cared

## Teaching point

When people are included, labels stop mattering.

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

Invited to give the Sunday sermon at St George's Cathedral, Ajahn Brahm submitted to TV make-up and found the place packed, with no one caring who was Christian or Buddhist. When people are welcomed, labels fade. Let everyone in, whoever they are, and offer them your kindness.

## Source

- [Expectations Cause Suffering | Ajahn Brahm | 24 June 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z8q_FWbWa8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 25:00 to 26:51: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z8q_FWbWa8&t=1500s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Where to Find Peace and Happiness | Ajahn Brahm | 29 May 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGtlZIlUoaM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 6:31 to 7:43: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGtlZIlUoaM&t=391s
- [Kindness is Important in Buddhist Communities | Ajahn Brahm | 11 February 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-4nWSXSgVk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:10:50 to 1:11:33: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-4nWSXSgVk&t=4250s