# The channelled spirit at the roulette table

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-channelled-being-roulette
- Themes: humour, authority, gambling
- Life situations: relying on psychics or channellers, gambling, blind faith

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A man channels a powerful being who gives him lots of advice; what he really wants is cash. “Go to the casino… the roulette table… put $10 on 19.” It wins. “All your winnings on 22.” It wins. “All your winnings on 16.” The ball lands on 17 — and he hears the being say “Shit!”

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

Here comes another joke about this person, and he channeled this powerful being and this powerful being gave all this advice, and the guy said, 'Well, look, it's nice having advice, but what I really want is some cash.' Okay, said this powerful being 'go to the casino.' So he went to the casino, and a powerful being said, 'go to the roulette table.' So he went to the roulette table. And this being said; he could hear it in his ears; channeling it. He said 'put $10 on number 19.' And the wheel went around, and the ball sat on number 19. 'Put all your winnings on number 22' said the being, He could hear it in his ears. Put all the winnings on number 22. And the ball went in number 22. 'Put all the winnings, he said, on number 16.' And he put all the winnings on number 16. the ball went round, and it fell in number 17. And he heard the being say "shit!" (laughter from audience) So even powerful beings make mistakes sometimes.

## Teaching point

Don't believe something just because it comes from a book, a trance or a supernatural being; everyone makes mistakes.

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

Three spins of the roulette wheel, all trusted to a channelled spirit, and the third lands one number off. Ajahn Brahm laughs: even powerful beings make mistakes, and swear about it. No voice, book or authority is infallible, so cut them some slack. When an answer really matters, check it against your own heart.

## Source

- [Buddhism and Atheism | Ajahn Brahm | 16-04-2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRutmoPEWaQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 34:39 to 35:58: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRutmoPEWaQ&t=2079s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Uncertainty | Ajahn Brahm | 6 November 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5jq9w7tD_k) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 6:28 to 9:48: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5jq9w7tD_k&t=388s
- [The Middle Way of Wealth | Ajahn Brahm | 26 January 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnYkOjzYQgU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 51:44 to 55:02: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnYkOjzYQgU&t=3104s
- [Gaming Not Gambling | Ajahn Brahm | 16-11-2012](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pry4ilLMMNY) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 22:22 to 24:40: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pry4ilLMMNY&t=1342s