# King Canute ordering the tide

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Analogy
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-king-canute-and-the-tide
- Themes: power, nature, humility, analogy
- Life situations: control freaks, leadership

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Analogy: Canute stands on the beach and orders the tide out — nature does not obey kings.

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

King Canute who stood apparently somewhere in England and because he thought it was a kingly emperor with divine rights he stood on the beach and tried to order the time to actually to go out when it was coming in and obviously he made a fool of himself because you cannot control nature

## Teaching point

Power that orders the tide only proves the tide.

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

King Canute stood on the beach and ordered the tide back, and only made a fool of himself. For all our technology, we can't control nature, our bodies, our partners, or even our minds. Trying to brings frustration. Seeing that clearly is a relief. Stop commanding the tide. Learn to swim with it.

## Source

- [Power | Ajahn Brahm | 16 Nov 2007](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbjNdjXK7RU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 13:00 to 13:29: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbjNdjXK7RU&t=780s