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Story · Ajahn Brahm

One moment of lust — crash landing

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Story About Monk With Psychic Powers | Ajahn Brahm

3 min read

Content note: paranormal; lust

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

There was one of these monks and he was living in the Jungle and living in the jungle meditating in those days, people would be able to feed you no problem at all and he had like perfect solitude, meditating day and night really good monk and of course it just happens after time you get these deep meditations and after deep meditations, sometimes you get these powers and actually he could fly through the air. He would just, every morning Just have a flight, almost like exercise but the trouble was, that somebody saw him. This is why, if any of you get psychic powers, please don't do them in public. cos you can always get into big trouble. Every time. So, somebody saw him and of course, the word gets around and when the word gets around, For example, it not the case if you heard that someone at Dhammasara nun's monastery could fly through the air You'd all go down there and have a look and then you'd be hassling the nuns "come on show us, come on, come on" (laughter) but anyway, this monk, soon the word got to the king and the king said, I always wanted to see a real monk levitating. Would you like to see a real monk levitate? Would you? Of course you would, yes So the king would, but we're not going to do it so forget about it (laughter) But this king, You know, if you're the king you got powers so he sent his army up there you know and said, "the king summons you." He said, I don't want to go to the palace, I'm just a simple monk" He said " this is not a request, you're coming" So you know, he brought him to the place. and the king was a really good Buddhist. He actually built a little 'kuti' , a hut for this monk in the forest in the grounds. He said " Monk, just you know, you can just stay here" not you can, you will stay here and I want to just feed you, make merit make good kamma cos you're obviously a holy monk and to ask questions you know, about Dhamma and also get some advice on running my kingdom cos you're obviously wise you're not in it for the money like all my ministers and politicians you know, you're just wise So, I'll feed you. You live here You can levitate and fly through the air as much as you like and I want you to be like my wise advisor. which made a lot of sense. So the monk consented and the king would feed him really nice food he'd be in this little forest in the palace grounds Just like being in the jungle and every morning he would go for his exercise through the air but one day, as he was coming in to land that morning the person who was bringing him food was one of the princesses cos the king couldn't come himself and she was drop-dead gorgeous a hot chick (laughter) and this monk was just coming in to land and he just saw her, just one moment that's all it took just one moment of lust and he lost his ability to fly

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 0:01 (to 3:18)

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

In an old story, a monk who could fly was ordered to the palace by the king. One morning a beautiful princess brought his meal, and a single flash of lust brought him crashing down. It took years to recover. Ajahn Brahm jokes that unenlightened people shouldn't try flying. The point stands: anger, lust or pride can topple our best states.

In brief (our summary)

A jungle monk gains the power to fly; the king forces him to the palace as wise advisor. One morning a gorgeous princess brings food as he comes in to land — one moment of lust and he crash-lands, loses the power for two or three years, and walks away from the king.

Teaching point

Psychic powers vanish with a flash of lust, anger or pride.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Story About Monk With Psychic Powers | Ajahn Brahm · 2018-09-20 · ▶ watch from 0:01 to 3:18 · 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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