Being Mindful Stories

Joke · Ajahn Brahm

Anicca, Dukkha and Anatta walk into a pub

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Word of the Buddha (Part 1) | Ajahn Brahm | 27 November 2016

1 min read

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

And to lighten things up a bit There is the Anicca, Dukkha Anatta joke Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta walk into a pub All jokes starts with people walking into a bar So Anicca, Dukkha Anatta walks into a pub Dukkha says; as soon as he gets into the pub This bar sucks Anicca says don't worry it will change And Antta said Who said that? who said that? Anicca, Dukkha Anatta Joke Anicca, Dukkha Anatta walking into a bar Dukkha said it sucks Anicca said doesn't matter it wont last And Antta said who said that? I think that's quite good Anicca is impermanence Dukkha is suffering So Dukkha sees suffering, so Dukkha walks into the pub and said this bar sucks, it is a terrible bar it is a horrible pub So that's dukkha, that's what he was saying And Anicca says Everything passes, don't worry it will change And Anatta, non self says Who said that OK I thought that was funny Anyway Anyway I am weird I expect that

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 1:09:50 (to 1:11:15)

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

Anicca, Dukkha and Anatta walk into a pub. This bar sucks, says Dukkha. Don't worry, it'll change, says Anicca. Who said that, asks Anatta. Ajahn Brahm admits he's weird. Behind the gag is the Buddha's teaching. What changes and falls apart was never really ours to keep.

In brief (our summary)

Anicca, Dukkha and Anatta walk into a pub. Dukkha says the bar sucks; Anicca says don't worry, it will change; Anatta asks who said that.

Teaching point

(Joke packing the three characteristics into a bar gag.)

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Word of the Buddha (Part 1) | Ajahn Brahm | 27 November 2016 · 2016-11-27 · ▶ watch from 1:09:50 to 1:11:15 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

2 other tellings of this story

Caption notes: Manual (volunteer) captions; occasional misspellings kept as is. 'Antta' for Anatta as captioned.

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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