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Story · Ajahn Brahm

If I were President Bush after 9/11

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Hatred and how to overcome it | Ajahn Brahm | 17 Jun 2016

1 min read

Content note: terrorism; political; 9/11

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

I gave a talk in Singapore just after 9 11. maybe a week two weeks afterwards and after the talk the obvious question if you were President Bush what would you have done and I said straight away I did this I said this with with all the power of being a monk for such a long time after 9 11 If I Was President Bush I would have gone on TV straight away and said I forgive everybody involved in this terrorist Act there's been enough people died already I don't want any more mothers crying over their sons I don't want any brothers just so lost because their little brother is gone I forgive everybody let's end this violence and I was wondering what would have happened afterwards just imagining just people through the streets of Baghdad holding up photos of George W bush rather than Osama bin Laden George Bush George Bush instead of Osama bin Laden and I I got a standing ovation for that about 1500 people

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 44:45 (to 46:00)

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

Weeks after 9/11, asked what he'd have done as President, Ajahn Brahm said he would have forgiven everyone so no more mothers would cry. Fifteen hundred people stood and cheered. Hatred never ends through more hatred. Respect others even when you disagree. Their soccer team needn't share your religion.

In brief (our summary)

A week or two after 9/11, asked in Singapore what he would have done as President Bush, Ajahn Brahm says he would have gone on TV and forgiven everyone involved so no more mothers cry — imagining Baghdad streets holding Bush photos instead of bin Laden's. About 1,500 people give a standing ovation.

Teaching point

Hatred does not cease by hatred; forgiveness is the other ideology.

When this story may help

  • aftermath of violence
  • political anger

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Hatred and how to overcome it | Ajahn Brahm | 17 Jun 2016 · 2016-06-17 · ▶ watch from 44:45 to 46:00 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned.

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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