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Story · Ajahn Brahm

I demand my right to bow to Jesus

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Lower Your Expectations | Ajahn Brahm | 24 Nov 2017

1 min read

Content note: named Frank Sheehan

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

being invited to give the uh the talk at the morning assembly at christ church grammar school remember it was with one of my mates that was uh the chaplain cannon frank sheehan yeah she thanks you and he became a nice mate of mine and so there we were in front of christ church grammar school a really top school uh anglican christian school here in perth and three of us were outside waiting for the kids to be settled down in this beautiful chapel with its amazing views over the swan river and as we were outside the principal you know was a very devout christian and he said when we go welcome to our school where we go inside no the chaplain frank and i we will bow to the statue of jesus christ because we're christians we said you're a buddhist you don't need to you know i always i'm a cheeky monk sometimes as these two monks next to me will know and sometimes i make an argument just to make a point and so i said to the principal i said no i demand my right to bow to your statue of jesus i remember his face are we talking about what mad monk have i let into my school

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 44:53 (to 46:27)

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

A school principal told Ajahn Brahm he needn't bow to the statue of Jesus. The monk insisted on his right to bow, out of respect, not conversion. Two weeks later the principal bowed beside him before the Buddha. Find what's good in another's path. Respect builds common ground that religions too often break.

In brief (our summary)

Invited with Chaplain Canon Frank Sheehan to Christ Church Grammar School's morning assembly, the devout Christian principal tells Ajahn Brahm he need not bow to the statue of Jesus. The cheeky monk replies that he demands his right to bow — not as a Christian, but because he can respect what is worthwhile in that image. The principal's face says 'what mad monk have I let into my school' — then he gets it.

Teaching point

Bowing can mean respect for what is good in another's path, not conversion to it.

When this story may help

  • interfaith encounter
  • feeling like an outsider

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Lower Your Expectations | Ajahn Brahm | 24 Nov 2017 · 2017-11-24 · ▶ watch from 44:53 to 46:27 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

2 other tellings of this story

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'cannon frank sheehan' = Canon Frank Sheehan.

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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