# The Jimi Hendrix museum was shut

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-jimi-hendrix-museum-closed
- Themes: karma, attachment, humour, music
- Life situations: travel, old enthusiasms

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Jimi Hendrix was Ajahn Brahm's teenage idol; he even had the haircut. Giving talks in Seattle with a free afternoon, he's urged to visit the Jimi Hendrix museum. He thinks a monk shouldn't really go to such things — and goes anyway. It is the one afternoon a week the museum is shut. 'This is my karma.'

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

You know, I used to really like Jimmyi Hendris and I I was he was my big idol when I was young and my hair was all like this. I had Jimmyi Hendrick's haircut and I went to Seattle once to give some talks and I had a free afternoon. People in Seattle said, "Why didn't you go to Jimi Hendris Museum, you know, cuz it's Jimi Hendrick's Museum is in Seattle." And I thought, "I'm a monk. I shouldn't really go to such things. The monks are supposed to give up all those things." So I went and this is my karma. I went there and that afternoon, one afternoon a week it was shut. It just really taught me a lesson.

## Teaching point

Told against himself as a light lesson in karma and letting go of old attachments.

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

Jimi Hendrix had been Ajahn Brahm's teenage hero, haircut and all. In Seattle he decided a monk shouldn't really visit the museum, went anyway, and found it closed that one afternoon a week. He laughs: this is my karma. Old attachments linger in all of us. Smile at them, and let them go a little more.

## Source

- [Jealousy | by Ajahn Brahm | 15-11-2013](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nBSPHe1RCc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 52:46 to 53:33: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nBSPHe1RCc&t=3166s