# Londoners laughed at the robes

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-london-appearance-made-them-laugh
- Themes: humour, robes, London, perception
- Life situations: standing out, travel

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Walking London streets in robes; strangers laugh at his appearance before he understands why — until he turns a corner and sees himself as they do.

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

walking down the streets of London and know a lot of times because they didn't know what the heck I was, you know, wearing brown robes and bald head, no socks. That was weird enough. But then you would uh people would never ever say hello to you. But on Christmas day, everybody would say hello to you without exception. You know, there's also that one time I recall that, you know, that just the it's amazing the different cultures, but you wear these robes wherever you go because that's all you have. So anyway, when I was uh visiting like Stoke on Trent, that's where where my mother was born and so a lot of family up there. So I was visiting one of my friends or cousin and over there and going for a walk in the morning, a nice little bit of exercise. And as I was walking down the the streets, everybody was pointing at me and laughing. And I I don't mind actually creating some happiness in the world and joy in this world. It's a wonderful thing to make people laugh, but I really couldn't understand why. I wasn't telling any jokes. It was just, you know, just my appearance was sometimes making them laugh

## Teaching point

Sometimes the joke is just how new you look in an old city.

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

Walking through London in his robes, Ajahn Brahm noticed everyone pointing and laughing. Then he turned a corner and saw the circus poster: they thought he was a clown. He didn't mind. Laughter connects people. Share your frailties and silly moments. Taking yourself lightly makes everyone happier.

## Source

- [Relax to the Max | Ajahn Brahm | 15 December 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0IpS91JEsk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 19:52 to 21:12: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0IpS91JEsk&t=1192s