Being Mindful Stories

Story · Ajahn Brahm

Hey Hare Krishna — and he was one

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Finding fault or finding beauty | by Ajahn Brahm | 5 June 2015

1 min read

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

somebody shouted out hey Harry Krishna nah you know they know that you know many years ago they don't know what a Buddhist monk is and they just think they're all the same so my mum was with me I said okay look Mom I'm not having this I've got to educate this person this person is wearing a beanie in a sort of you know a coat because it was cold and I went out to him and said excuse me sir I am not Harry Krishna I'm a Buddhist monk okay you should know better and he listened quite patiently and smiled and then he lifted off his beanie had a little ponytail at the back and said I know you were Buddhist monk I'm Harry Kushner Harry Krishna

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 7:18 (to 8:00)

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

Out shopping with his mum, Ajahn Brahm was heckled as a Hare Krishna, so he lectured the man: I'm a Buddhist monk. The man lifted his beanie to reveal a ponytail: I know; I'm Hare Krishna. Check your facts before correcting someone. Pick the right moment too; never criticise in public, or when people are tired.

In brief (our summary)

Shopping with his mother on Ealing Broadway, someone shouts 'Hey Hare Krishna!' Embarrassed for mum, he educates the beanie-wearing heckler that he is a Buddhist monk — then the man lifts the beanie, shows a ponytail and says he knows: he is Hare Krishna.

Teaching point

Get your facts right before you correct someone — it may rebound.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Finding fault or finding beauty | by Ajahn Brahm | 5 June 2015 · 2015-06-08 · ▶ watch from 7:18 to 8:00 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

1 other telling of this story

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'Harry Krishna'/'Harry Kushner' = Hare Krishna.

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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