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Story · Ajahn Brahm

A retreat at Disney

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Contentment | Ajahn Brahm | 11 Mar 2016

1 min read

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

After leaving Korea I went to Hong Kong to do a meditation retreat. You know where we held the Meditation Retreat in Hong Kong last week-end? In Disney World! I taught a meditation retreat in Disney World, Hong Kong. That's the sort of crazy stuff which I love. So the first night we had the meditation, because it's a Disney World Hotel; they brand, so the first night we had the meditation in the Sleeping Beauty Room! (laughter from the audience) which is not a good place to meditate everyone was falling asleep and nodding. (Ajahn laughs) Sloth and torpor. So we moved to the Snow White Room that was much better. Snow White room was a much better place to meditate because Snow White .. purity, virtue and goodness, kindness. But all the interviews ... when we have a retreat we give personal interviews about their meditation. They chose the interview room to be ... because I was sitting there all the time people coming in to ask their questions when they go out someone else would come in. That was in the Prince Charming Room! (audience laughing) So I sat so many hours in the Prince Charming Room, I thought that was very sweet, and appropriate!

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 33:52 (to 35:17)

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

Ajahn Brahm taught a meditation retreat in a Disney hotel: the Sleeping Beauty Room sent everyone to sleep, so they moved, and he gave interviews in the Prince Charming Room. Spiritual life needn't be grim. Try new things. Where everybody thinks the same, as his favourite saying goes, no one thinks at all.

In brief (our summary)

Ajahn Brahm taught a 'Kindfulness' meditation retreat in the Disney hotel in Hong Kong. The first night they meditated in the Sleeping Beauty Room — everyone nodded off — so they moved to the Snow White Room, which suited purity and kindness better. He gave all the meditation interviews in the Prince Charming Room, which he found very sweet and appropriate.

Teaching point

Spiritual life needn't be grim; comfort, rest and a bit of fun can help people meditate well.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Contentment | Ajahn Brahm | 11 Mar 2016 · 2016-03-11 · ▶ watch from 33:52 to 35:17 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: Manual (volunteer) captions; occasional misspellings kept as is.

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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