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Story · Ajahn Brahm

Ajahn Chah's one word of English

As told by Ajahn Brahm in On Patience | Ajahn Brahm | 26-06-2009

1 min read

The story — as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

actually he did learn one word of English when he went to London for a few weeks when he came back we asked him in TI did you learn any English know any English words when you staying in L he said yeah I learned one word what was that cup of tea That's the only word could go pan lond he he that all the day cup of tea you want a cup of tea have a cup of tea

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 37:44 (to 38:09)

A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

After weeks in London, Ajahn Chah came home with exactly one English phrase: cup of tea, because everyone kept offering him one. The joke is gentle, and it says something about hospitality. He didn't need English to teach; he taught by example and by handing his monks a shovel. What we do repeatedly speaks louder than anything we say.

In brief (our summary)

Back from a few weeks in London, Ajahn Chah, who spoke no English, is asked in Thai whether he learned any English words. Yes, one: “cup of tea” — because all day in London everyone kept asking, “Cup of tea? Want a cup of tea? Have a cup of tea.”

Teaching point

(A light aside: Ajahn Chah taught not by words but by example and object lessons.)

When this story may help

  • travel
  • cross-cultural experience

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in On Patience | Ajahn Brahm | 26-06-2009 · 2009-07-07 · ▶ watch from 37:44 to 38:09 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

2 other tellings of this story

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned.

The narrative is Ajahn Brahm's own telling, quoted from the talk captions. The summary and reflection are Being Mindful Stories's editorial notes. Please credit the teacher and link the original talk. Markdown version

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