# I noted jewelry going out, going out, going out

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-noting-burglars-jewelry-out
- Themes: humour, mindfulness, meditation, protection
- Life situations: needing a laugh, passive mindfulness

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Joke about a meditator whose house is burgled: he was very mindful — noted burglar going in, jewelry going out, safe going out — but never responded. Mindfulness needs a response sometimes; don't let anyone burgle your peace.

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

i saw the burglars going in and i noted burglar going in berkeley going in burglar going in i saw jewelry going out and i noted jewelry going out jewelry going out jewelry going out i saw them backing a van into your house and i saw safe going out safe going out i was very mindful i was noting all the time madam it's not just about noting sometimes there's a response necessary so i'm restrained to make the mind really peaceful to safeguard your belongings and what do you really owe peace stillness joy don't let anybody burgle that

## Teaching point

Awareness without wise response is not enough; protect what matters.

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

Burgled while meditating, a man calmly noted: burglar coming in, jewellery going out, safe going out. Mindfulness sometimes needs a response, Ajahn Brahm laughs. Guard what's truly yours: peace, stillness and joy. Don't let anyone break in and steal those. They're your real treasures.

## Source

- [Kindness, Generosity and Forgiveness | Ajahn Brahm | 8 July 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLrhGW7GEjM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:01:50 to 1:02:38: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLrhGW7GEjM&t=3710s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Interview: Tough Questions for Ajahn Brahm | 06 Nov 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq-nVhcn-dM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 12:32 to 13:06: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq-nVhcn-dM&t=752s