# Looking for a tortoise with a moustache

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Analogy
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-chah-tortoise-with-a-moustache
- Themes: perfectionism, suffering, expectations
- Life situations: searching for the perfect partner, perfectionism, chronic dissatisfaction

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Ajahn Chah used to say that looking for a happiness that doesn't exist is like looking for a tortoise with a moustache. Just because you haven't seen one doesn't mean it doesn't exist — you just haven't found it yet. So people spend their whole lives searching.

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

Ajahn Chah used to make that uh statement, and he would keep on repeating it. And when we were like looking for some sort of happiness that didn't exist, he said that was like looking for a a tortoise with a mustache. Have you ever seen a tortoise with a mustache? Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Just you haven't found it yet. So, what many people do, they spend their whole lives looking for a tortoise with a mustache, realizing such things just don't exist.

## Teaching point

Suffering is asking the world for something it cannot give — the perfect partner, meditation or society.

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

Ajahn Chah said chasing a happiness the world can't give is like searching for a tortoise with a moustache. Not seeing one keeps you looking all your life. Perfect partners, endless love, flawless meditation: suffering is asking for what isn't there. Enjoy what life can give, and stop hunting for the impossible.

## Source

- [The Nature of Suffering | Ajahn Brahm | 10 February 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvMmZICc1Y) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 6:30 to 7:09: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvMmZICc1Y&t=390s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Happiness Industry: Joy At Last! | Ajahn Brahm | 27-07-2007](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex5a4a40k6s) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:01:17 to 1:02:29: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex5a4a40k6s&t=3677s
- [Coffins and Living | Ajahn Brahm | 29-10-2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADimMxdjrQc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 24:28 to 24:55: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADimMxdjrQc&t=1468s