# The Japanese monk who just started walking

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-japanese-monk-walks-from-tokyo-airport
- Themes: uncertainty, faith, monks, travel, generosity
- Life situations: letting go of plans, inspiring faith

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A Japanese fellow-monk of Ajahn Chah flew to Tokyo to visit family in the north without telling them, walked from the airport with no money or plans, made the news, and was taken under the wing of the Thai ambassador to Japan (later ambassador to Australia), who regained faith in Buddhism from seeing a monk live with uncertainty.

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

there's one monk he was a japanese monk a friend of mine and uh now with ajanchar and he decided to go and visit his family in japan but instead of actually just arranging everything he never even told his family he was coming his family lived up in the north of japan he just arrived at the airport in tokyo just got out of the uh the aircraft and just went to the customs and had his passport stabbed and then started walking just walked into tokyo and then just where he rested that night was just in the park in the morning got up and started walking again and you know we just had no plans no money first couple of days didn't get anything to eat but did you know go on arms round in tokyo and as he was walking somebody saw him he said who are you because he was japanese he spoke obviously perfect japanese language and then he said he was just a monk he's walking from the airport to visit his family and of course that was newsworthy he got on the news and after he got on the news the thai ambassador to japan saw that and so at last a real monk someone who doesn't make plans doesn't have money to survive somewhere and sleep outside and just walk and just living with the uncertainty of life and that she took him under her wing and just really looked after him and she later on became the ambassador thai ambassador to australia so you know she came here a couple of times that was suchitra and that's where she got her faith in buddhism again

## Teaching point

Radical trust in uncertainty can inspire others as much as it sustains you.

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

A Japanese monk flew home without telling his family and simply started walking from Tokyo airport, with no money or plans. He made the news, and a Thai diplomat cared for him and rediscovered her faith. Living with uncertainty takes trust. It can inspire others more than any sermon.

## Source

- [Uncertainty | Ajahn Brahm | 6 November 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5jq9w7tD_k) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 29:51 to 31:49: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5jq9w7tD_k&t=1791s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Expanding Your Circle of Compassion | Ajahn Brahm | 08 December 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82YR5zJpcQc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 16:31 to 17:29: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82YR5zJpcQc&t=991s