Being Mindful Stories

Joke · Ajahn Brahm

Sharing a room with the snorer

As told by Ajahn Brahm in How To Not Have Any Stress | Ajahn Brahm | 12 May 2017

1 min read

Content note: same-sex kiss used as punchline

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

There's a guy, he was traveling. He checked into a hotel and said “sorry sir there's no free rooms. No rooms are free.” he said “look, I'm desperate! You've got anything?” He said “well, there is a twin share but the fellow in the other bed, he doesn't mind people sleeping in the same room. But he's a terrible snorer and no one is ever able to get a good night's sleep in the same room with this guy. He snores just like an elephant. And they the guy said “there's no problem at all. I'll take the room.” so in the morning when he, the guy checks out, he said how did he go? Get his thing “I slept perfectly. No problem at all.” “How on earth did you manage that?” “So so easy. As soon as I got my pajamas on I went over to the other guy, gave him a big kiss and he stayed awake all night.

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 1:01:11 (to 1:02:08)

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

Offered a room with a legendary snorer, the traveller didn't fight the noise; he changed the game and slept like a baby. Ajahn Brahm calls it emotional intelligence and admits the joke may upset someone. When a problem won't move, try being flexible rather than forceful. Plans made of rubber bend instead of snapping.

In brief (our summary)

With no free rooms, a traveller accepts a twin share with a legendary snorer and sleeps perfectly. His secret: as soon as he got into his pyjamas he went over and gave the snorer a big kiss — and the snorer stayed awake all night.

Teaching point

(Q&A joke, 'emotional intelligence', after a question on sleep problems.)

When this story may help

  • sleep problems
  • snoring partner

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in How To Not Have Any Stress | Ajahn Brahm | 12 May 2017 · 2017-05-12 · ▶ watch from 1:01:11 to 1:02:08 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

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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