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Story · Ajahn Brahm

“But there were so many other robberies I got away with”

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Not Blaming Others | Ajahn Brahm | 15 November 2019

1 min read

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

fellow who was in prison for something he didn't do. Imagine being put in jail for a crime you don't commit. And this poor gentleman he was over at Karnet prison farm and I used to go and see him. And he he came up to me one evening and he said, you know when I was visiting there. And he said: look Ajahn Brahm, I respect you. And you know I’m trying to change my life, trying to be a good person, keeping my precepts. So I won't lie to you. He said: I won't lie. I know other prisoners will all say they're innocent, they didn't do it. But I didn't do that crime. I didn't do that robbery. I’ve been put in jail for something I never did. And I’ve got a social conscience you know. You can't just let that happen to a poor person put in jail for a few years for a crime he didn't commit. And I also know that you know your ability to get a lawyer or just to call for help is so limited inside prison. So I thought I know people maybe I can take that cause up. Maybe I can sort of fight for his release from jail for a crime he never committed. But as I was thinking like that the this this scallywag of a prisoner he looked at me and he broke into this you know almost like a few teeth missing smile. And he said he said: But Ajahn Brahm, it's true I honestly I never did that crime. I never did that robbery. But he said since I listened to you

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 40:18 (to 42:12)

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

An old prisoner swore he was framed, and Ajahn Brahm began planning which lawyers to call. Then the man grinned: since learning about karma, I've counted all the robberies I got away with. Fair enough. We complain about the one speed camera that catches us, never the times we weren't caught. Maybe it balances. Learn and grow.

In brief (our summary)

After the class an old prisoner earnestly tells Ajahn Brahm he's in jail for a robbery he didn't do — he was set up. Fired with a sense of justice, Ajahn Brahm is mentally listing the lawyers he'll ring when the man adds with a cheeky smile: “But there were so many other robberies I got away with… I guess this is fair.”

Teaching point

Karma evens out: we're sometimes blamed for what we didn't do, and often get away with what we did.

When this story may help

  • being blamed unfairly
  • feeling life is unfair
  • speeding fines

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Not Blaming Others | Ajahn Brahm | 15 November 2019 · 2019-11-15 · ▶ watch from 40:18 to 42:12 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

6 other tellings of this story

Caption notes: Manual (volunteer) captions; occasional misspellings kept as is.

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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