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Story · Ajahn Brahm

'What prison were you in?'

As told by Ajahn Brahm in The Negativity of Positivity | Ajahn Brahm | 23-04-2010

1 min read

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

Even my predecessor, Ajahn Jagaro, you know, when he disrobed here, he had this big chunk of life, 20 years, from his life had disappeared in monasteries. So when he went to the United States, and he applied for a job, they thought, "What were you doing in those 20 years?" "I've been a monk." "Yes, we've heard that before. "What prison were you in?" So he actually asked me to write him a letter, to actually to confirm that No, he didn't go to jail, he was a monk.

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 13:33 (to 14:03)

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

Applying for jobs after twenty years as a monk, Ajahn Jagaro was asked which prison he'd been in, and needed a letter proving otherwise. Ajahn Brahm told real prisoners the same truth he tells everyone. However long it lasts, pain passes. Knowing that takes the sting out, little by little.

In brief (our summary)

When Ajahn Brahm's predecessor Ajahn Jagaro disrobed and applied for jobs in the United States, employers asked about the 20-year gap. 'I've been a monk.' 'Yes, we've heard that before. What prison were you in?' He had to ask Ajahn Brahm for a letter confirming that he hadn't been in jail — he had been a monk.

Teaching point

Prison carries deep shame; but every sentence, every difficulty, passes.

When this story may help

  • career gaps
  • leaving monastic life
  • stigma after prison

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in The Negativity of Positivity | Ajahn Brahm | 23-04-2010 · 2010-04-25 · ▶ watch from 13:33 to 14:03 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

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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