# A Buddha to stop bullets

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-chah-big-buddha-stops-bullets
- Themes: superstition, responsibility, Ajahn Chah, humour
- Life situations: seeking protection, magical thinking, military service

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A long-time supporter of Ajahn Chah, drafted into the Thai army, begs him for a blessed Buddha amulet to protect him from bullets — after all the food and donations he's given. Ajahn Chah finally agrees: he'll give him a Buddha to wear round his neck, guaranteed 100% to stop bullets. 'Where is it?' Ajahn Chah points to the big Buddha statue in the main hall: 'Put that around your neck.'

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

even ajahn Chah the great master is this great story when one of his disciples had been around a long time was drafted into the Thai Army and there's always a lot of problems being in the army sometimes the skirmishes on the border or down the south of Thailand people actually get killed when he joined the army so you've got drafted in the army and he waited to see the very teacher said look can you please give me something to protect me from harm especially from bullets he said I know that you've got these amazing powers I'm sure if you could give me some amulet to wear around my necks a little Buddha to wear around my neck I'm sure that that will protect me from bullets so though we don't get into that you know this is not what a monk is supposed to do we're supposed to teach you how to live a good life and how to look after yourself and take responsibility for yourself you know to keep out of harm's way sort of being mindful being learns when you're in the army because a lot of times people get injured because of stupidity he said no you know there's always things go on go on I might be unlucky I didn't I please give me a Buddha statue and I've been looking after you for such a long time I come to the temple I give all these dollars in a donation box I give you food come on I'm only asking for them for Buddha to wear around my neck you could do that so the great brass said Oh Hey I will give you a Buddha statue to wear around your neck and he said I guarantee they were protected from bullets 100% and they thought wow this great monk with all his powers can bless a little ambulance a bullet a bullet proof ambulance and there was a movie about that bulletproof monk or something but anyway this was a real story I much probably bulletproof mic was was based on I'm not sure I never seen that movie but anyway he said okay I'll give you a Buddha to wear around your neck which will protect you from bullets oh thank you thank you thank you where is it and now John shall see that Big Buddha like the one behind me over here in the main hall put that around your neck and I guess it will stop any bullets

## Teaching point

No charm protects you; take responsibility and be mindful.

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

A drafted soldier begged Ajahn Chah for a bullet-stopping amulet after years of donations. Fine, said Ajahn Chah, pointing at the giant Buddha statue in the hall: wear that round your neck. Nobody asked again. Real protection comes from mindfulness and responsibility, not from things you hang around your neck.

## Source

- [Loving Life, Loving-Kindness | by Ajahn Brahm | 20 Feb 2009](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj98u8peZOU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 5:12 to 7:40: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj98u8peZOU&t=312s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Superstitions | Ajahn Brahm | 12-01-2007](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RggiVQ6F0fk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 5:57 to 7:46: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RggiVQ6F0fk&t=357s
- [Friday The 13th](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0krodCJYes) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 15:44 to 16:37: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0krodCJYes&t=944s
- [Gaming Not Gambling | Ajahn Brahm | 16-11-2012](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pry4ilLMMNY) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 17:44 to 19:00: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pry4ilLMMNY&t=1064s