# They drew a circle that shut me out

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Analogy
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-drew-a-bigger-circle
- Themes: mettā, inclusion, poetry, acceptance
- Life situations: feeling excluded, tribal conflict

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Poem/analogy: heretic shut out by a circle; love and wisdom draw a bigger circle that includes them in — visual for mettā expanding the in-group.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

drew a circle which shut me out. Rebel heretic. Someone to flout. But love and wisdom had the wit to win. We drew a bigger circle which included them in. And I thought that was a very beautiful little analogy, a visual that sometimes people will draw a circle and which will enclose you and just shut you out from other things. But you can always build a bigger circle. A bigger circle. A bigger circle which can include so many other people

## Teaching point

Answer exclusion by enlarging the circle, not by winning the smaller one.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

A poem tells of someone shut out by a circle who answers by drawing a bigger one that takes the others in. Ajahn Brahm uses it for loving kindness meditation. Picture what you accept at the centre, the hard and repugnant towards the edge. Then gently widen the circle until it holds a little more.

## Source

- [Acceptance and Rejection | Ajahn Brahm | 1 March 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLZqW5r3XLo) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:32 to 2:26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLZqW5r3XLo&t=92s