# Monk at Centrelink: prove you exist

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-centrelink-prove-you-exist
- Themes: renunciation, non-self, humour, bureaucracy
- Life situations: dealing with bureaucracy, ageing

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Applying for a Commonwealth seniors card, Ajahn Brahm is asked to prove who he is. Forty-three years of trying to find out who he is, he says — 'not metaphysically', they reply. Bank account? Marriage licence, house deed, rental agreement, driving licence? None. Monks are so hard to prove to exist — no wonder they believe in non-self.

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

i thought it's about time i applied for a commonwealth seniors cut to get some more respect we already get meals on wheels every day people bring down the for us so i went in there to the center link and they said okay can you prove who you are and i thought you know for 43 years i've been trying to find out who i it's a am difficult question so i said no no no not metaphysically have you got your passport you know that's i think that's a certain number of points and i said okay let's see your your your bank accounts or your bank card i've got that have you got marriage license no have you got your your ownership of your house no your rental agreement no your driving license no we are so difficult to prove we exist that's why we believe in oneself we're just not here

## Teaching point

(Humorous aside on renunciation and non-self.)

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

Asked to prove his identity at Centrelink, a monk with no house, car, marriage or driving licence struggled to show he existed at all; no wonder they teach non-self, he jokes. The forms want a fixed somebody. It can be a relief to remember you're less solid than your paperwork, and to laugh at the bureaucracy.

## Source

- [Facing Difficult Situations in Life | Ajahn Brahm | 6 October 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yy0k6zefVM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 16:46 to 17:58: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yy0k6zefVM&t=1006s

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 30:38 to 31:38: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvMmZICc1Y&t=1838s
- [Emotional Intelligence and Acceptance | Ajahn Brahm | 19 May 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejSaOOQ3VrY) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 0:40 to 3:49: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejSaOOQ3VrY&t=40s
- [Relax the Mind | Ajahn Brahm | 13 June 2025](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_HZAqnmAYM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:00:36 to 1:02:27: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_HZAqnmAYM&t=3636s
- [Importance of Pausing and Reflecting | Ajahn Brahm | 31 December 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yifAjwBk1aA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:14:41 to 1:16:27: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yifAjwBk1aA&t=4481s