# Joke: four monks with a vow of silence

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-four-monks-vow-of-silence
- Themes: humour, craving, meditation
- Life situations: trying too hard, spiritual striving

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Four monks take a vow of silence. One sneezes. The first says, 'Bless you.' The second says, 'You've just broken your vow of silence.' The third says, 'Ha ha, so have you.' The fourth says, 'I'm glad I'm the only one here who can keep quiet.'

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

there was four monks with a vow of silence one monk sneezed the first monk said bless you second monk said you've just broken your vow of silence the third one said haha so have you fourth one said I'm glad I'm the only one here who can keep quiet

## Teaching point

Wanting to end wanting is more wanting; every attempt to grab peace breaks it.

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

Four monks keep a vow of silence until one sneezes, and each in turn breaks it by commenting on the others. Every time we want something, even peace, we move away from it. Ajahn Chah's leaf only moves because of the wind. Stop the wanting, and the mind settles all by itself.

## Source

- [Wanting For Nothing | by Ajahn Brahm | 02-10-2012](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JXoSyx-G-Q) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 48:02 to 48:24: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JXoSyx-G-Q&t=2882s