# “That's a beautiful baby” on the Tube

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-london-underground-baby
- Themes: kindness, praise, connection, humour
- Life situations: loneliness in a city, commuting, connecting with strangers

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

On a depressing London Underground ride where nobody looks at anyone, Ajahn Brahm tells a young mother her baby is beautiful — a fib, he admits, since he doesn't like babies — and she opens up into a warm conversation for the rest of the journey.

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

one of the hardest places to crack, for me anyway, is the London Underground. But I've succeeded many times. You know if you have ever gone in the London Underground, you're not allowed to look at each other. You've got to look down and you've got your paper and someone's looking at you. What do they want? You can do that. I remember it just very easy. You are stuck in this underground. I don't know how long. And this is depressing. So, I just saw this girl. She was holding a baby and I just okay, I told a fib. I looked up and said, that's a beautiful baby. [laughter] I don't like babies, but I said it's a beautiful baby. And that just opened this girl up. Should I really said who are you? Where are you from? Oh you are from Australia. You are a monk. We had this beautiful conversation to the very end.

## Teaching point

A small compliment can open people and change the course of a day.

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

In a Tube carriage where nobody looks at anybody, one compliment about a baby turned into a warm conversation for the rest of the ride, though he admits babies aren't really his thing. A small kind word, a smile or a bit of praise can change a whole journey. And if your smile isn't returned, keep at it; people usually give in.

## Source

- [How to deal with rejection and lack of self-worth | Ajahn Brahm | 30-01-2015](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enFEj7wKrnM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 48:38 to 49:39: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enFEj7wKrnM&t=2918s