# If you retire, you will die

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-ganha-tells-him-not-to-retire
- Themes: aging, teaching, duty, Ajahn Ganha, kamma
- Life situations: wanting to retire, feeling tired of service

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Paying respects to Ajahn Ganha, Ajahn Brahm asks to retire from talks and travel. In front of everybody Ganha replies that if he retires and stops teaching and traveling he will die. Not what Brahm expected — so he keeps going and enjoys it as his kamma.

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

I was telling him all these people over in Perth, they said I shouldn't be travelling around so much; I'm just working too hard; I should relax a bit more." He said, "No, please tell them, please tell them, Ajahn Brahm, if you stop all of this, you stop working hard, you will die." That's what he told me. And I went, "Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu! You understand; he's a powerful monk— giving and serving gives you meaning in life. If you don't give and serve, yeah, you may amass money

## Teaching point

Sometimes the teacher forbids the rest you want because your kamma is still to serve.

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

Ajahn Brahm hoped his old friend Ajahn Ganha would bless his retirement. Instead, in front of everyone, he said: stop serving and you'll die. Ajahn Brahm kept going, and enjoys it. Giving brings vitality and meaning, whether you're sweeping paths or visiting the sick. Elders who still serve shine for a reason.

## Source

- [How to Keep Giving Without Reward | Ajahn Brahm | 02-05-2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Krhmz-dau0s) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 45:11 to 45:42: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Krhmz-dau0s&t=2711s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Reincarnation | Ajahn Brahm | 3 Feb 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIrtqS0LkYQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 7:21 to 7:56: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIrtqS0LkYQ&t=441s