Being Mindful Stories

Story · Ajahn Brahm

When am I going?

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Unresolved Issues | Ajahn Brahm | 04-04-2014

1 min read

Content note: names Ajahn Jagaro (former abbot) — public figure in the community

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

Agent Chow won't tell me when I'm gonna go. " He kept going there every day to ask him when he could go so that he could actually make arrangements and agent Chow would never tell him. This went on for about two weeks and agent Jack kept on asking, "When am I gonna go? I need to make preparations," and agent Chow would never tell him. Then one day, agent Jackrow never went to ask. And then agent Chow told me, "You're going the next day

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 12:49 (to 13:18)

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

Ajahn Chah told Ajahn Jagaro he'd be sent to another monastery, then changed the subject every time Jagaro asked when. The day Jagaro stopped asking, Chah sent him. He was teaching him to live with uncertainty. Too many plans make us fearful and blind to opportunities. Trust you'll manage, and enjoy not knowing.

In brief (our summary)

At Wat Pah Pong, Ajahn Chah tells the young monk Ajahn Jagaro he is being sent to another monastery ('the banana garden'). Jagaro asks when he's going; Ajahn Chah changes the subject. Day after day Jagaro asks, and day after day Ajahn Chah changes the subject. Jagaro complains to Ajahn Brahm: all he wants is a simple answer. After about a week Jagaro stops asking — and the next day Ajahn Chah sends him.

Teaching point

The craving to know is a form of fear of losing control; let things belong to the great unknown.

When this story may help

  • waiting for news
  • uncertainty
  • needing answers

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Unresolved Issues | Ajahn Brahm | 04-04-2014 · 2014-04-08 · ▶ watch from 12:49 to 13:18 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: Manual (volunteer) captions; occasional misspellings kept as is. 'Agent Chow'/'Jackrow' = Ajahn Chah / Jagaro.

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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