# There are a thousand Ajahn Chahs

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-jagaro-thousand-ajahn-chahs
- Themes: Ajahn Chah, teachers, memory, humility, disciples
- Life situations: disputes about a teacher, after a death, interpreting teachings

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

At Ajahn Chah's funeral the Western monks argued about what he had really taught — pure mind or nothingness. Ajahn Jagaro settled it: there are a thousand Ajahn Chahs, because every disciple remembered what mattered to them and never even perceived the rest. Brahm has his version; hundreds of others have theirs.

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

anecdotal and this is praising my predecessor Ajahn Jagaro At Ajahn Chah's funeral service You know they hang out for a couple of days That's a very nice anecdote because as you would expect.. I was with Ajahn Chah for about 8, 9 years And we were all having a discussion what did Ajahn Chah teach Did he teach pure mind or did he teach nothingness What did he teach? And there was a big argument between all the monks What did Ajahn Chah actually teach Then Ajahn Jagaro really wisely he said there are thousand Ajahn Chahs because every disciple remembered something from Ajahn Chah which he thought was important and interesting and other stuff we just didn't even get to our perception So he said there are as many disciples of Ajahn Chah that's how many different teachings there are which is so wise So what did Ajahn Chah say? I got Ajahn Brahm's version of Ajahn Chah and hundreds of other versions of Ajahn Chah of what he said Because we all know what we could understand or what we could see, and that's what we remembered things which were beyond us we just didn't even remember That's why when you quote other people it is great with the Buddha because at least we got it in black and white

## Teaching point

Each disciple hears the teacher through their own capacity; quoting 'what the teacher said' often says more about the hearer.

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

At Ajahn Chah's funeral, Western monks argued over what he'd really taught. Ajahn Jagaro settled it: there are a thousand Ajahn Chahs. Each disciple remembered what they could understand. Hold your version humbly. When you quote a teacher, you also reveal yourself.

## Source

- [Word of the Buddha (Part 1) | Ajahn Brahm | 27 November 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TZfyq1XTd0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:30:49 to 1:32:30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TZfyq1XTd0&t=5449s