# Owners of Labradors go blind

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-labrador-owners-go-blind
- Themes: humour, delusion
- Life situations: needing a laugh

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Two men talking: one plans to buy a Labrador. His mate: 'Don't be stupid. Haven't you noticed the owners of Labradors usually go blind?'

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

And today's stupid joke is about the two men who were talking to one another. One of them said, "You know, I think I need a pet. I'm gonna buy a dog. I'm gonna buy a Labrador." And his mate said, "Buy a Labrador? Don't be stupid. Haven't you noticed the owners of Labradors usually go blind?"

## Teaching point

A deliberately stupid joke about confusing cause and effect; he can't help his conditioning.

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

Don't buy a Labrador, a man warns his mate; haven't you noticed their owners go blind? Ajahn Brahm admits the joke is stupid and blames his conditioning. Then he gets serious: trying to make the world or yourself perfect is a kind of hating it as it is. Caring is embracing things as they are.

## Source

- [Wisdom and Stupidity | Ajahn Brahm | 04-02-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbOShAIwNJA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 51:24 to 51:52: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbOShAIwNJA&t=3084s