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Story · Ajahn Brahm

The cult-buster who ran from the Buddha statue

As told by Ajahn Brahm in The Attitude Of Fearlessness | Ajahn Brahm | 21-11-2008

1 min read

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

I remember one time this man came, he was a Christian, he was the head cult buster in Western Australia. He was checking us out to see whether we were a cult who indoctrinated people and sort of took over their minds. Well, we do indoctrinate people, but we actually free their minds rather than take them over. When he came in he was met by our caretaker who was a very wonderful girl, and so Australian and so charming he thought, "This can't be a cult," until he went into the room and saw the big Buddha statue. He ran out in fear, he was terrified just because it's a simple Buddha statue. Now you can go in the room next door and see that Buddha statue, and all the time which I've seen that, it has never moved, it's never bitten, it's never done anything, it's just sat there.

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 3:05 (to 4:07)

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

Western Australia's chief cult buster was charmed by the caretaker, then fled from a statue that in all these years has never moved or bitten anyone. Many of our fears were handed to us by others. It's worth looking calmly at the thing itself; often there's nothing there but a peaceful figure sitting still.

In brief (our summary)

In the early North Perth centre, Western Australia's chief 'cult buster' comes to check the Buddhists out; charmed by the very Australian caretaker he decides it can't be a cult — until he sees the Buddha statue and runs out terrified. The statue, Ajahn Brahm notes, has never moved or bitten anyone.

Teaching point

Fear can be indoctrinated into us; examined, it often has no object.

When this story may help

  • fear of the unfamiliar
  • religious fear
  • prejudice

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in The Attitude Of Fearlessness | Ajahn Brahm | 21-11-2008 · 2008-11-30 · ▶ watch from 3:05 to 4:07 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

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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