# Halloween on the London Underground

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-halloween-vampires-underground
- Themes: humour, monastic life, london, belonging
- Life situations: feeling out of place, travelling in robes

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

His brother puts him on the Tube toward the London Buddhist Society. The carriage fills with vampires, witches and ghosts — it is Halloween. For the first time in robes on the Underground he does not feel odd; others seem to wonder what he is dressed as.

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

When I was visiting my brother in London and after having lunch with him, then he put me on the underground train to actually to go to my next appointment. He paid the fair, gave me the ticket cuz I don't have any money. And so I paid a ticket and they sent me to the London Buddhist Society just know next to Victoria. And when I got on that train, it was weird. I was the first one in my carriage. But then these vampires came on. [laughter] They're vampires. Really, I'm not exaggerating. about [snorts] five or six of them with long teeth and blood and just really weird clothing on. And then after they came on, then then came a few witches, [laughter] a few ghosts. What's going on? And then I remembered cuz it was it was Halloween's night. [clears throat] It was it was quite ordinary. But then I started thinking, you know, for the first time riding the underground trains dressed as a monk in a London, for the first time, I never felt odd wearing my robes. [laughter] And I think many of them thought, [laughter] now what are you dressed up as? I'm a monk. [laughter] And I really enjoyed that.

## Teaching point

Sometimes the world is weirder than a monk in robes — and belonging can arrive as a joke.

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

Riding the London Underground in his robes, Ajahn Brahm found the carriage full of vampires, witches and ghosts. It was Halloween, and for once he didn't feel odd. Some passengers seemed to wonder what he'd come as. Standing out can be a gift. A relaxed, friendly presence teaches without words.

## Source

- [It's OK to Cry | Ajahn Brahm | 5 November 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGUifWXKcbU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 46:20 to 48:01: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGUifWXKcbU&t=2780s