Story · Ajahn Brahm

Brahn, why? — I don't know

1 min read

The story — as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

wang, empty, nothing there. And that story, I think it's in one of my books somewhere, that when he used to try to get enlightened me, he said, "Brahn, Ajahn Brahn." He didn't call me Ajahn Brahn cuz he was the Ajahn. Brahn, I'm wrong, sir. Why? The wonderful story. Why? I said, "I don't know." And he laughed. Stupid young monk. But then he said, "I'll tell you the answer

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 51:33 (to 52:07)

A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

Ajahn Chah once asked young Ajahn Brahm simply: why? I don't know, he said, and Chah laughed. Then he gave the answer to every why: there's nothing. Do you understand? Yes. No, you don't. Ajahn Brahm treasures the put-down and the depth. Not knowing is an honest start. Let the questions rest and see what stops.

In brief (our summary)

Ajahn Chah calls 'Brahn' and asks why; young monk says I don't know; Chah laughs and offers to tell the answer (wang / empty teaching frame).

Teaching point

Not knowing is sometimes the only honest first reply.

When this story may help

  • spiritual questions
  • teacher encounters

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in The Four Jhanas | Ajahn Brahm | 13 November 2020 · 2020-11-13 · ▶ watch from 51:33 to 52:07 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

2 other tellings of this story

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions with machine-added punctuation; words left exactly as captioned. 'Brahn' = Brahm.

The narrative is Ajahn Brahm's own telling, quoted from the talk captions. The summary and reflection are Being Mindful Stories's editorial notes. Please credit the teacher and link the original talk. Markdown version

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