# 'Because you're the principal'

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-principal-wont-go-to-school
- Themes: humour, work
- Life situations: dreading work, start of term

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

At the start of term a mother can't get her son out of bed. 'Why do I have to go? The other kids don't like me. The teachers don't like me. No one likes me at that school.' 'You have to go.' 'Why?' 'Because you're the principal.'

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

mother was trying to get her son to get up to go to school beginning of the school term and the son would not get out of bed. And so she said, "Come on you've got to go to school, son." "Why?" he said to his mum. "Well, you have to go there." But "No, the other kids don't like me. The teachers don't like me. No one likes me at that school." "Well, you have to go." "Why?" "Because you're the principal."

## Teaching point

Told as a filler joke at the start of the school term.

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

A boy refuses to get out of bed for the new term: the kids don't like him, the teachers don't like him. You still have to go, says his mother, because you're the principal. A little start-of-term joke. Even people in charge feel unloved and reluctant some mornings. Be gentle with them, and with yourself.

## Source

- [The Nature of Suffering | Ajahn Brahm | 10 February 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvMmZICc1Y) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 47:18 to 47:47: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvMmZICc1Y&t=2838s