# Train so you can shoot over their heads

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-chah-shoot-over-their-heads
- Themes: non-harm, war, Ajahn Chah, compassion
- Life situations: conscription, moral conflict

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Ajahn Chah's disciple faces conscription; Chah says train hard on the firing range so you are a good enough shot to always shoot over their heads and never kill — a bad shot might hit someone by accident.

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

Make sure when you go on the firing range, you train, train, train, train so you're a good shot." Said, "Why?" So that means you can always shoot over their heads. If you're really good shot, you'll never kill anybody

## Teaching point

Skill can be used to spare life, not only to take it.

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

Facing conscription, a disciple asked Ajahn Chah what to do. Train hard and become a fine shot, he said, so you can always shoot over their heads and never hurt anyone. Ajahn Brahm adds that most soldiers resist killing, so generals demonise the enemy. Never let anyone become less than human to you.

## Source

- [Real Happiness | Ajahn Brahm | 22 November 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKpp1Z-6kA0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:10:16 to 1:10:36: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKpp1Z-6kA0&t=4216s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Simple Happiness and Contentment | Ajahn Brahm | 7 February 2025](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7keCxXJf18) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 6:18 to 7:02: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7keCxXJf18&t=378s