Being Mindful Stories

Joke · Ajahn Brahm

Gambling? With whom?

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Expectations Cause Suffering | Ajahn Brahm | 24 June 2022

2 min read

Content note: religious humour about Christian and Jewish clergy (mild)

The story — as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

So I remembered this story of these um what was it? It was a a Buddhist monk, a Christian and a what was the other one? It was a rabbi. That's right. and they were trying to get some contact with each other, trying to learn from one another. So they had discussions and they had tea. They wanted something a bit more interesting. So they started playing cards together, you know, just to find some more friendship together. And then the cards turned to gambling and then that was illegal. So somebody dobbed them in, told the police and the three of them were arrested. the Buddhist monk, the Christian priest, and the Jewish rabbi. They had to appear before the the judge. And the judge said, "You're all sort of people of faith. So, no, first of all, just uh Christian priest. You were found gambling. Are you guilty?" I just ask you, make it quick and simple because you're supposed to be honest. You know what the Christian priest did so fast the judge didn't catch him? He looked up in the sky and said, "Jesus, forgive me." And said, "No." Said, "Okay, you can go." Then they asked the rabbi. The rabbi couldn't say that. So the rabbi crossed his fingers behind his back and he said, "No, I wasn't gambling." Did you ever do that when you're at school? I don't know why they say that but if you cross your fingers behind the back it means you can say whatever. So keep your fingers in front please. So anyway then they asked the monk he said and they by now the judge was getting a bit suspicious of these religious people. So you don't believe in Jesus or God monk so you can't ask forgiveness there keep your hands in front so you don't cross your fingers behind the back. So monk, were you gambling? And the monk said to the judge, with whom? [laughter] You can't gamble by yourself.

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 21:28 (to 23:42)

A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

A priest, a rabbi and a monk are arrested for gambling at cards. Two wriggle out with a glance upward and crossed fingers; the monk just asks the judge who he could have gambled with. A gentle joke between friends of different faiths. Getting on well with people unlike you starts with being at ease.

In brief (our summary)

A Buddhist monk, a Christian priest and a rabbi meet for interfaith friendship; tea turns to cards, cards to gambling, and they're arrested. The judge asks the priest if he was gambling: he glances up, 'Jesus, forgive me', and says no. The rabbi crosses his fingers behind his back: no. The suspicious judge tells the monk to keep his hands in front: 'Monk, were you gambling?' 'With whom?'

Teaching point

A gentle interfaith joke about honesty and fitting in.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Expectations Cause Suffering | Ajahn Brahm | 24 June 2022 · 2022-06-24 · ▶ watch from 21:28 to 23:42 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

1 other telling of this story

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions (machine-punctuated); words left exactly as captioned.

The narrative is Ajahn Brahm's own telling, quoted from the talk captions. The summary and reflection are Being Mindful Stories's editorial notes. Please credit the teacher and link the original talk. Markdown version

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