# I want happiness — scrub I, scrub want

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-want-happiness-cartoon
- Themes: humour, happiness, not-self, craving
- Life situations: teaching

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Cartoon: angry man brings a monk a sign 'I want happiness'. Monk scrubs out the I (let go of self), then scrubs out want (craving), and holds up the remaining word: happiness.

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

there was a cartoon first. This really angry guy going to the monk. I want happiness. And the monk takes one look at that. Problem number one, I let go of the sense of self. Yeah, just part of nature. Just just let that eye go. So he scrubs out the eye and then the sign reads want happiness. Second problem, want. So he scrubs that out and then he holds up the sign happiness

## Teaching point

Happiness appears when self and craving are scrubbed off the sign.

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

In a cartoon, an angry man brings a monk a sign reading 'I want happiness'. The monk crosses out 'I', then 'want', and hands back 'happiness'. Self and craving are the problem. And you don't have to be happy on cue either. You're not supposed to be anything. Just relax, wherever you are.

## Source

- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 24 February 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsZ5vAFunlY) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:03:49 to 1:04:27: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsZ5vAFunlY&t=3829s

Other tellings of this story:

- [The Calm In The Eye Of The Storm - Session 2 | Ajahn Brahm & Venerable Canda | 25 March 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxsFY1fazpQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 52:43 to 53:46: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxsFY1fazpQ&t=3163s
- [Emboldening the Mind with Fizz & Sparkle (9/14) | Ajahn Brahm & Venerable Canda | 10 December 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-inp5ZUac8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 35:19 to 36:08: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-inp5ZUac8&t=2119s