# You're just helping me sharpen my knife

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-chah-sharpen-my-knife
- Themes: teachers, investigation, Ajahn Chah, freedom
- Life situations: afraid to ask, challenging authority

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

An Englishwoman argues with elderly Ajahn Chah for hours; others say leave him alone — Chah says no, she is helping him sharpen his knife: hard questions are welcome.

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

you just helping me sharpen my knife and that's actually how he would uh regard when you ask difficult questions always it was accepted

## Teaching point

A real teacher treats tough questions as whetstone, not threat.

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

An Englishwoman argued with the elderly Ajahn Chah for hours. When others asked her to leave him alone, he said no, she was helping him sharpen his knife. Hard questions were always welcome. Investigation is close to sacred in Buddhism. Don't fear people who challenge you; they may be sharpening you.

## Source

- [Investigate Your Way to Freedom | Ajahn Brahm | 19 Dec 2008](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKKGmoXR2QE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:22 to 1:36: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKKGmoXR2QE&t=82s