Being Mindful Stories

Joke · Ajahn Brahm

In Vietnam Adam would have eaten the snake

As told by Ajahn Brahm in The Wisdom Borne of Silence | Ajahn Brahm | 1 Jan 2016

1 min read

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

if the Garden of Eden where this happened to Adam and Eve it's only a metaphor didn't really happen but if that was Garden of Eden hadn't been in Europe or Middle East if that had been in say China or Vietnam there would never be any problem CU if the Garden of Eden had been in Vietnam Adam would have eaten the snake not the Apple You' been to these oldfashioned Vietnamese restaurants snakes on the menu they would have eaten the Apple

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 1:15:39 (to 1:16:17)

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

An archbishop friend joked that if Eden had been in Vietnam, Adam would have eaten the snake instead of the apple. Ajahn Brahm credits him firmly. A fresh angle helps. When a relationship troubles you, worrying hides the answer. Walk in the forest or along the beach, and let quiet show you what thinking can't.

In brief (our summary)

Archbishop Roger Herft's joke: if Eden had been in China or Vietnam there would have been no Fall — Adam would have eaten the snake, not the apple (snakes are on the menu).

Teaching point

Culture reframes even the oldest stories.

When this story may help

  • interfaith dialogue

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in The Wisdom Borne of Silence | Ajahn Brahm | 1 Jan 2016 · 2016-01-01 · ▶ watch from 1:15:39 to 1:16:17 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'Roger hft' = Herft.

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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