# Two hours signing books in Jakarta

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-jakarta-book-signing-two-hours
- Themes: fame, Indonesia, service, humour
- Life situations: public events, authors

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

After a talk of four or five thousand in Jakarta, a huge line wants books signed and photos — two hours of signing and smiling for the camera.

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

Indonesia I think it was in Jakarta where my books you know all of them have been really big best sellers in Indonesia some well known over there and so after the talk there's about four or five thousand people at the talk then they wanted their books signed and there was a huge long line of people two hours it took of signing books and smarting for the camera signing books sliding for the camera exciting a book smarting for the camera and that's okay for the first hour but after an hour of doing this I thought what the heck am I doing I'm a monk I should be in some cave somewhere meditating what do I what am I doing signing books and having my mug shot taken

## Teaching point

Fame is a queue that still wants a signature.

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

After a huge talk in Jakarta, Ajahn Brahm signed books and posed for photos for two hours. By the second hour he wondered what a monk was doing there instead of in a cave, and his smile faded. Nobody wanted photos when he was young and handsome, he jokes. Even kindness has limits. Notice when you're running low.

## Source

- [Why monks don't run? | Ajahn Brahm | 23 Dec 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlyY7lq5YGo) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 2:06 to 3:02: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlyY7lq5YGo&t=126s

Other tellings of this story:

- [How To Be A High Flyer | Ajahn Brahm | 6 Mar 2009](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tOI6z8lcLc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 20:03 to 20:36: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tOI6z8lcLc&t=1203s