# The hermit of the Nullarbor

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-hermit-of-the-nullarbor
- Themes: decisions, fantasy, humour, solitude
- Life situations: wanting to escape, fear of public speaking, choosing a path

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Ajahn Brahm's monk's fantasy: living as a hermit in a deep Nullarbor cave with water beneath. Then he imagines what would follow — someone finds him, Channel 9 comes for a human-interest story ('was it a broken heart? ... because the Eagles kept losing?'), tour buses divert across the Plain, then toilets outside the cave, a gift shop with Devonshire teas, and bobble-head hermit dolls.

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

I always had these fantasies like going in deep caves. This was my fantasy. Coz when I first came over here I heard there’s some brilliant caves in Nullarbor. And they’ve got water underneath as well. So you’ve got your water, you’ve got seclusion. And I felt sure I can get someone to give me some food somewhere. And I thought I would become like the hermit of Nullarbor. That’s my fantasy. This is what monks dream of. They don’t dream of winning the lottery or finding a beautiful girl. They dream of being a nice hermit in a deep cave in Nullarbor. But then I started fantasizing further: what would happen next? Imagine, if you were like a monk and you’re staying in a deep cave in Nullarbor, sooner or later somebody will find you. And the soonest they find you, they will tell Channel 9. (laughter) And Channel 9 will go out there with their reporters to do like a human interest story about the hermit of the Nullarbor. “And why did you run away? Was it because of a broken heart? (laughter from the audience) Was it because… was it because your business went pear-shaped? Or because some other reason why you just didn’t like the world anymore? Because the Eagles kept on losing, was that the reason why you why you went to be a hermit?” (Ajahn laughing) And then they do an interview, and of course it would go on the TV and of course as soon as the TV would go there and they tell you that there’s a hermit at their Nullarbor, and of course all these tourists will start to come and visit you on the way across the Nullarbor Plain they make a diversion to go and see the hermit of the Nullarbor. Coz that’s very rare to see like a hermit. And so I’ve got all those tour busses coming to see the hermit of the Nullarbor. And then soon they would have to have toilets outside my cave and a little gift shop which has devontiontees. And before long you get those little dolls like the hermit of the Nullarbor with a shaky head. (audience laughing) And so you’d be a tourist attraction. Just like everything else. And that’s what happens with the hermit of the Nullarbor

## Teaching point

Whatever you choose, the world has its way; no decision is so important that it's worth fearing.

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

Ajahn Brahm's dream of hiding in a Nullarbor cave ends with TV crews, tour buses, toilets, a tea shop and bobble-head hermit dolls. Whatever you choose, the world goes its own way. So don't agonise. If a decision works out, wonderful; if it doesn't, also wonderful. Without that fear, choosing becomes much lighter.

## Source

- [Decisions, Decisions, Decisions | Ajahn Brahm | 9 May 2008](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOJVD0Lh-ZU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 18:01 to 20:02: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOJVD0Lh-ZU&t=1081s

Other tellings of this story:

- [The Nature of Suffering | Ajahn Brahm | 10 February 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvMmZICc1Y) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 59:11 to 1:01:52: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvMmZICc1Y&t=3551s
- [Dreams And Other Things | Ajahn Brahm | 13 Mar 2009](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSePDgBXCq4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 48:39 to 50:58: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSePDgBXCq4&t=2919s