# The stolen Harley on the wrong level

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-harley-wrong-car-park-level
- Themes: non-attachment, possessions, letting go, humour
- Life situations: loss or theft of property, attachment to possessions

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

An early member owns almost nothing except his prized Harley-Davidson. In a Sydney shopping centre car park he returns to find it gone, contemplates the teachings — “I don't own these things” — and truly lets it go, proud and at peace. Only then does he realise he is on the wrong level of the car park; there is his Harley. Now he knows he can enjoy it without being attached.

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

I can't pass by this story of one of the people who used to come here in the very early days. The only thing he was ever attached to, the only possession he had was his Harley Davidson, incredibly beautiful motorbike. And those things are worth 50 60 thousand dollars. even more than that. just a bike; it's just worth a huge amount of money. But that was his pride and joy. He just stayed with friends, He just rented houses with people, wore old cloths but he had his Harley. And he told me once, I think he was over in Sydney somewhere, he went shopping and he parked his Harley in the shopping center. Just may be half an hour that's all it took. He went to buy something when he came back to the car park his Harley was gone. someone has stolen it. And he being a Buddhist for a long time. and he thought 'Am I attached to this', can I let it go; someone has stolen it. He wrote to me about this afterwards; and he said he really thought about it ; it is proving what the Buddha kept on telling me what the monks and nuns always said I don't own these things. It's not really mine and he actually let it go. That's what he wrote to me.. he was so proud of himself All these teachings he had been hearing year after year they finally worked. He lost his only possession, the only thing which was really worth anything has been stolen and he could be at peace with it. Ok I let it go, I can live without a Harley And he was so pleased with himself, he could actually do a letting go. Showed him that he wasn't attached. Some karmic forces which is really weird because as soon as he realized he let it go; that he felt the joy that he wasn't attached it was only then he realized he was on the wrong level of the car park. (laughs) You know what it is you have done that sometimes. And of course when he went back to the correct level , there was his Harley Davidson sitting there (laughs) He says it was a beautiful experience for him. It just tested him and now he knew he could enjoy that Harvey Davidson knowing he wasn't attached. Enjoy the extra months and years which he had with his Harley and he knew that when someone eventually stole it or got it crashed or whatever happen he knew he could let it go. He realized yes he can enjoy without being attached.

## Teaching point

Don't give up your things; give up ownership of them — enjoy without attachment.

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

His Harley was his only treasure, and when it vanished from the car park he worked through the teachings and genuinely let it go. Then he realised he was on the wrong level. He rode home knowing he could enjoy the bike without clutching it. Keep your car, your house, your savings; just drop the idea that they're yours forever.

## Source

- [Instead of Attachment | Ajahn Brahm | 04-03-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L50xVM7wwss) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 17:01 to 19:39: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L50xVM7wwss&t=1021s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Talk Your Way To Happiness | Ajahn Brahm | 09-02-2007](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7d-KozmokQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 11:30 to 12:43: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7d-KozmokQ&t=690s
- [Problems and Solutions | Ajahn Brahm | 30 Oct 2015](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivjWh2yuumk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 21:53 to 25:22: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivjWh2yuumk&t=1313s
- [Dealing With a Loved Ones's Suffering | Ajahn Brahm | 05-11-2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO-I2TBeOV4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 14:20 to 15:56: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO-I2TBeOV4&t=860s
- [Ownership and Anger| Ajahn Brahm | 14 February 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adpMTYPFELs) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 39:55 to 43:29: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adpMTYPFELs&t=2395s
- [Three In One | Ajahn Brahm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hac2MFrYJc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 24:46 to 26:37: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hac2MFrYJc&t=1486s
- [Appreciation | Ajahn Brahm | 29 November 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaBYSDBj37E) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 12:51 to 13:25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaBYSDBj37E&t=771s