# Why shoes stay outside Buddhist temples

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-shoes-outside-temple
- Themes: humour, temples, practicality
- Life situations: needing a light opening, temple etiquette

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Someone asked why people don't wear shoes in Buddhist temples. His answer: so if he tells a bad joke, you can't throw your shoes at him — you have to leave them outside.

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

someone asked me why it was that people don't wear shoes in Buddhist temples and the answer to that is because it means if I tell a bad joke you can't throw your shoes at me you have to leave them outside before you come

## Teaching point

There's always something practical about Buddhism — and about humour.

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

Why do people leave their shoes outside Buddhist temples? So they can't throw them when Ajahn Brahm tells a bad joke. Then he turns to a hard question: why do people do bad things? Understanding helps us forgive, and admit we're capable of the same. That's the first step to causing less hurt.

## Source

- [Why Do People Do Bad Things? | Ajahn Brahm | 17-06-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaEI0Z2tesA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 0:14 to 0:35: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaEI0Z2tesA&t=14s