# The silent German monk who finally gave a talk

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-german-monk-best-dhamma-talk
- Themes: teachers, Sri Lanka, Dhamma, surprise
- Life situations: meeting teachers, travel

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

In Sri Lanka with Bhikkhu Bodhi: a German monk who never gives talks is visited; an hour later Brahm emerges calling it the best Dhamma talk he had ever heard — better than Ajahn Chah's; Bodhi is astonished the recluse spoke.

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

this monk would He was another German monk. He would never give a talk to anybody. And Bhikkhu Bodhi said, "Just go in there and pay respects." It took an hour before I came out. [laughter] And he sat me down and gave me a nice Dhamma talk. And at that time, I said that was the best Dhamma talk I'd ever heard. Even beat Ajahn Chah's teachings

## Teaching point

The one who never talks may still hold the talk you needed.

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

In Sri Lanka, Ajahn Brahm visited a German monk known for never giving talks. An hour later he emerged having heard the best Dhamma talk of his life, while Bhikkhu Bodhi, who lived there, had never been given one. You can't plan where wisdom comes from. Stay open to hearing it anywhere.

## Source

- [Word of the Buddha (Part 1) | Ajahn Brahm | 22 January 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Z8bgVlumE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:16:27 to 1:16:51: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Z8bgVlumE&t=4587s