Story · Ajahn Brahm
“Doctor Buddha's orders”
The story — as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)
there was this one guy who used to come here, and he said that when he started keeping his five precepts and gave up drinking alcohol, it was very difficult for him because the first time he went to a party or a reception, one of his work friends gave him some alcohol and he said, "No, I can't take it cuz I'm a Buddhist." And his friend said, "Oh, you're a Buddhist? Yeah, I know about Buddhism. I really respect Buddhism. Buddhism is all about letting go. Come on, let go. Have a beer." So, he's caught out. That's the trouble that people know a little bit about Buddhism. They don't know enough. So, he had to take the beer that time. He was put in a spot, but afterwards he told me that he found the solution. Cuz the next time he went to a reception or a party at work and someone offered him a drink, he said, "No, I can't take the alcohol. Doctor's orders." And people left him alone. Because now, if it's doctor's orders, it's a medical condition, no one would actually challenge you. But when he told me that, I actually criticized him back. I said, "Aren't you keeping one precept by breaking another? You're lying. There's nothing wrong with you. You're perfectly healthy." But then he actually he actually taught me some Buddhism because now, he was what So, I make mistakes sometimes. Please correct me sometimes if I make a mistake and he actually taught me more because it was true. He said, "Look, don't you remember Ajahn Brahm? In many of those old teachings of the Buddhas, the sutras, many, many times he actually compared himself to a doctor." And so, it was a doctor's orders. Doctor Buddha's orders.
▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 29:39 (to 31:27)
A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)
Teased at a work party that a good Buddhist should let go and have a beer, a new Buddhist started saying 'doctor's orders' instead. Ajahn Brahm scolded him for fibbing, until he pointed out that the Buddha called himself a doctor. You can keep your values quietly and with humour. No lecture needed.
In brief (our summary)
A new Buddhist refuses a drink at a work party — 'I'm a Buddhist' — and a colleague replies that Buddhism is all about letting go, so let go and have a beer; caught out, he drinks. Next time he says 'Doctor's orders' and is left alone. Ajahn Brahm scolds him for breaking one precept to keep another — until the man points out the Buddha often compared himself to a doctor: it's Doctor Buddha's orders.
Teaching point
You can keep a precept gracefully without preaching; the Buddha is the doctor.
When this story may help
- refusing a drink
- work functions
- peer pressure
Themes
Source & credit
Told by Ajahn Brahm in Sex and Booze | Ajahn Brahm | 01-07-2011 · 2011-07-05 · ▶ watch from 29:39 to 31:27 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia
2 other tellings of this story
- Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 4 December 2021 · 2021-12-04 · ▶ watch from 4:38 to 6:08 · Buddhist Society of Western AustraliaDec 2021 telling: Christmas party — 'let go and have a drink'; next time 'doctor's orders' / Dr Buddha.
- Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 15 June 2019 · 2019-06-15 · ▶ watch from 1:06:04 to 1:06:30 · Buddhist Society of Western AustraliaJun 2019: new Buddhist refuses wine — 'surrender, have a drink'.
Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, 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