# Number three after the Quran and the Bible

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-indonesia-books-third-after-quran-bible
- Themes: humour, fame, books, expectations
- Life situations: unexpected success, comparing yourself

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

In Indonesia a bookseller tells Ajahn Brahm his books are always number three in the big Gramedia chain — beaten only by the Quran and the Bible. He is delighted; he is not going to try to beat those two.

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

your books are number three sort of in the in the grand media books uh store as a chain of bookshops and so they're the biggest booksellers over in Indonesia and they said it's always number three and I said what beat my books and he said what beat what was number one was the Quran what was number two is the Bible and you're next I said that's pretty cool it's like I'm not going to try and beat those two books in Indonesia but it was actually pretty impressive

## Teaching point

Told as an example of how far beyond a monk's expectations life can go.

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

An Indonesian bookseller told Ajahn Brahm his books always came third, behind only the Quran and the Bible. He had no plans to compete. Huge crowds were never what he expected as a monk. Expectations limit us. Go along for the ride, give what you have, and life can turn out far more interesting than planned.

## Source

- [Expectations | Ajahn Brahm | 15 April 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV0wiAuOqik) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:35 to 2:15: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV0wiAuOqik&t=95s