# The PhD who was shown how to sweep

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-phd-sweeping-the-floor
- Themes: humour, pride, education
- Life situations: overqualified for a job, pride in qualifications

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A PhD graduate can only find work sweeping floors in a supermarket and complains to the boss that he has a graduate degree. 'Oh, sorry, I didn't realise you're a university graduate,' says the boss. 'Here is the broom. This is how you sweep.'

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

but that old story years ago I believe it's okay now as well this person who had graduated with a PhD from one of the great universities ities, you know, the only job he could get was in the supermarket, you know, sweeping the floors and the the young graduate just complained. Said, "Look, I've got a graduate degree and you give me the job sweeping the floors." And the boss of the supermarket said, "Oh, sorry. I didn't realize that you are a university graduate." Now, here is the broom. This is actually how you sweep.

## Teaching point

(A joke about intellectuals, told as an aside before answering a professor's question.)

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

A PhD graduate complained about sweeping supermarket floors, so the boss kindly showed him how to hold the broom. Ajahn Brahm uses it to tease intellectuals before a professor's question about God. He chose an answer to build harmony rather than win a point. Clever is fine. Kind and humble lasts longer.

## Source

- [How to Deal with Difficulties | Ajahn Brahm | 29 April 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teELqB3MAG4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 12:21 to 12:58: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teELqB3MAG4&t=741s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Learn to be Silent | Ajahn Brahm | 13 April 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw-RV0F1OJw) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 27:35 to 28:09: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw-RV0F1OJw&t=1655s