Being Mindful Stories

Story · Ajahn Brahm

They auctioned his robe in Melbourne

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Ownership and Anger| Ajahn Brahm | 14 February 2020

1 min read

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

I ordained him, Venable Moodau. He said, "Ajent bra, we need your robe." It's not this one. The one I had before. We need your robe. Said why? To auction it. But you can't auction my robe. I'll be naked. Well, not really naked, but you know. And Melbourne is a very cold place. And so he didn't argue with me. He just took my robe off and gave me another one to wear, which is this one. So if my robe I don't really own it gets it gets auctioned off to other people. So what do you actually own? You know, I don't mind when you can actually people can take these things and give me another give me something else to wear, you know, and a nice similar. They had a new rope for me. He said, "Wear this one." But my old robe is fine. We're not listening. Take the old robe

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 16:27 (to 17:23)

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

At a Melbourne fundraiser, a monk he'd ordained asked for the robe off Ajahn Brahm's back to auction. He protested he'd freeze; they simply handed him another. He doesn't even own his robe, or his monastery. Some things are worth holding on to, like a ticket. But owning less means less to fix and worry over.

In brief (our summary)

At a Melbourne fundraiser for a new monastery, Ven. Mudita (captioned Moodau), whom he had ordained, asked for his robe to auction. He protested he'd be naked in cold Melbourne; Mudita simply took the old robe and gave him another. He wears the replacement and says he doesn't even own his robe.

Teaching point

Even the robe on your back isn't really yours if the community needs it.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Ownership and Anger| Ajahn Brahm | 14 February 2020 · 2020-02-14 · ▶ watch from 16:27 to 17:23 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'Venable Moodau'/'Ajent bra' = Venerable Mudita / Ajahn Brahm.

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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