# Ajahn Chah's one word of English

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-chah-one-english-word-cup-of-tea
- Themes: humour, Ajahn Chah, culture
- Life situations: travel, cross-cultural experience

## Synopsis (editorial 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.”

## 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

## Teaching point

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

## 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.

## Source

- [On Patience | Ajahn Brahm | 26-06-2009](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl0Lyxi8nbQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 37:44 to 38:09: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl0Lyxi8nbQ&t=2264s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Recollecting Past Lives | Ajahn Brahm | 19 April 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_tqHsSBEs0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 50:30 to 50:56: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_tqHsSBEs0&t=3030s
- [Ajahn Brahm's 74th or 888 month Birthday Celebration at Jhana Grove](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiA6j3quEhU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 18:09 to 18:43: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiA6j3quEhU&t=1089s