# Brahn, why? — I don't know

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-chah-why-i-dont-know
- Themes: Ajahn Chah, emptiness, humour, not-knowing
- Life situations: spiritual questions, teacher encounters

## Synopsis (editorial 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).

## 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

## Teaching point

Not knowing is sometimes the only honest first reply.

## 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.

## Source

- [The Four Jhanas | Ajahn Brahm | 13 November 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQrqbUc9Jb8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 51:33 to 52:07: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQrqbUc9Jb8&t=3093s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 23 October 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNq8cXLJTdo) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:07:22 to 1:09:20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNq8cXLJTdo&t=4042s
- [MN111 Anupada Sutta - Step by Step | Ajahn Brahm | 13 January 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MizVrlCNjkU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 57:28 to 57:47: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MizVrlCNjkU&t=3448s