# Any hair gel?

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-customs-hair-gel-laugh
- Themes: humour, travel
- Life situations: airports

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

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

## 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

## Teaching point

Honesty plus humour disarms bureaucracy.

## 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.

## Source

- [Grant Yourself a Moment of Peace | Ajahn Brahm | 11 April 2025](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZvNc4BpW_Q) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 38:23 to 39:01: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZvNc4BpW_Q&t=2303s

Other tellings of this story:

- [True Happiness | Ajahn Brahm | 27 February 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCC6N7kf7eI) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 22:04 to 22:28: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCC6N7kf7eI&t=1324s