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Story · Ajahn Brahm

Any hair gel?

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Grant Yourself a Moment of Peace | Ajahn Brahm | 11 April 2025

1 min read

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

They say, "Any um any gels?" I remember this customs officer asked me. There's a big queue people behind me. "You got any hair gel?" I couldn't help it. I was trying to be respectful, but I couldn't help but just laughing my head off. I said to all the people behind me. And this this this poor guy checking me out, "Get out get out of here. Go through." So it's nice being honest

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 38:23 (to 39:01)

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

A customs officer asked bald Ajahn Brahm whether he was carrying any hair gel. He burst out laughing, so did the queue, and the officer waved him through. Honesty and humour disarm bureaucracy. These days airport staff ask if he's teaching on Friday. Laugh freely; it connects people everywhere.

In brief (our summary)

Bald monk at customs is asked if he has hair gel; he can't stop laughing; officer waves him through.

Teaching point

Honesty plus humour disarms bureaucracy.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Grant Yourself a Moment of Peace | Ajahn Brahm | 11 April 2025 · 2025-04-12 · ▶ watch from 38:23 to 39:01 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

1 other telling of this story

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

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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