# The fourth priest's confession

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-four-priests-gossip
- Themes: gossip, speech, humour, confession
- Life situations: gossip, keeping confidences

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Four religious leaders, old friends, sit on a bench after a conference and confess their secret weaknesses. One is a compulsive gambler, the second an alcoholic, the third is sleeping with a married woman in his congregation. The fourth refuses to tell — it's much worse — but they press him until he admits it: 'I'm a gossip. Whatever I hear, I have to tell everybody else.'

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

four priests who were at a conference and over lunch they are sitting together, having their lunch together and one said to the other, this morning we were talking about confession how important it is that we share everything even if we made a mistake that we bring it up and tell our friends. So he said I have a confession to make. I know it is very difficult to say this but ahhh! every Monday is our day-off any wine left after the confession I drink it and I also go to the bottle shop and take as much liquor as I possibly can he said: I am an alcoholic. said the priest. The other priest said you have been hiding it so well; we never suspected that. It's a terrible thing to do for someone who is a moral leader to be an alcoholic. Never-mind you confessed may be we can help you. And then the other one, next one sort of said Well it is a bit hard but seeing as you confessed to be an alcoholic ahhh! he said I am a gambler. He said I am addicted to gambling Sometimes I take money out of the donation box, I intend to pay it back but I'll bet on anything, horse racing, on TV gambling I am an addicted gambler. I have big debts, he said. And the other two... said that's a terrible thing for someone in your position to be stealing and gambling And they all looked at the third person and said what's your thing, you like to confess he said I don't really want to tell you; but they had to forced it out of him he said it's adultery. there is one of the women who comes to his church they have being having an affair she is married That's terrible that you should do a thing like that but isn't it wonderful you can actually confess to your friends. They asked the fourth priest. Said what's your worst thing; and he said 'don't ask me', don't go there. They said no no surely you can tell us, we have told you that alcoholism, gambling, adultery, Surely it can't be worse than that. He said it is, must worse. What is it? He said 'look whatever I hear, I have to tell all my friends, I am a gossip

## Teaching point

Gossip is one of the worst kinds of wrong speech; speak well of others.

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

Four clergymen confess their weaknesses: gambling, drink, an affair, and the worst one, which the fourth won't admit at first. He's a gossip; whatever he hears, he has to tell. Gossip harms people who aren't there to answer. Choose gentle words that go to the heart instead.

## Source

- [Word of the Buddha (part 6) | Ajahn Brahm | 9 April 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLmfzVTRyRw) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 34:51 to 37:26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLmfzVTRyRw&t=2091s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Skillful Speech | Ajahn Brahm | 03-07-2009](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92eeS7ZGwlE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 53:38 to 58:33: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92eeS7ZGwlE&t=3218s
- [Tolerance Explored | Ajahn Brahm | 10-08-2007](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmjc0XuvROc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 26:12 to 26:42: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmjc0XuvROc&t=1572s
- [How to be of Service | Ajahn Brahm | 11 June 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgKWRJ3Po44) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 57:56 to 1:00:18: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgKWRJ3Po44&t=3476s
- [Helpful and Harmful Gossip | Ajahn Brahm | 13 March 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyIecIdEO2M) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 14:35 to 17:25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyIecIdEO2M&t=875s