# One leaf on a swept path

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Analogy
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-chah-one-leaf-on-the-swept-path
- Themes: simplicity, understanding, mindfulness
- Life situations: overload, busy life

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Ajahn Chah's image: when you've swept a path and one leaf falls on it, it stands out, because it isn't tangled up with all the other leaves — you can really see it, get to know it and understand it. Ajahn Brahm uses it for simplicity: life is so complex we don't understand even one simple thing.

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

Ajanch used to tell that story. I remember he said if you swept the path and a leaf falls on it why does it stand out? It's because it's not entangled. it's not sort of um confused with all the other leaves which have fallen down there. But if one leaf falls on there, you can really see it and get to know it and understand it.

## Teaching point

Simplicity makes clear seeing possible.

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

Ajahn Chah noticed that a single leaf on a freshly swept path stands out, so you can really see it. Our lives are so crowded with chores and theories that we never understand even one simple thing. Clear a little space. Simplify, be kind, stop fighting yourself, and things become clear.

## Source

- [How to Lessen the Stress | Ajahn Brahm | 29 March 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSUdHhvVBfI) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 26:04 to 26:40: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSUdHhvVBfI&t=1564s

Other tellings of this story:

- [How To Deal With Confusion | Ajahn Brahm | 19-12-2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lln7FHZv6VQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 14:27 to 15:57: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lln7FHZv6VQ&t=867s
- [Word of the Buddha (part 2) | Ajahn Brahm | 8 December 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNi24Rek2WE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 17:09 to 17:46: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNi24Rek2WE&t=1029s