# Top of medicine by being silent

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-melbourne-medic-silent-exams
- Themes: silence, study, meditation, performance
- Life situations: exam stress, students, learning

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A woman tells Ajahn Brahm she came top every year in medicine at Melbourne University with first-class honours because she knew how to meditate: she kept her mind silent in lectures, and in exams read each question in silence and wrote down the first thought that came — the perfect answer.

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

One girl who told me she did medicine at Melbourne University top every year, first class honours because she knew how to meditate and be silent when the lecturer was speaking. Exams came make her mind absolutely silent, read the question in silence first thought which came up in her mind wrote it down, perfect answer.

## Teaching point

A silent mind absorbs and performs far better than a busy one.

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

A doctor told Ajahn Brahm she topped her medical course every year by keeping her mind quiet in lectures and reading each exam question in silence before writing. The results are her own account, but the principle is easy to test. A mind that isn't chattering takes in more and answers better. Try listening to your next meeting without rehearsing your reply.

## Source

- [The Power of Silence | Ajahn Brahm | 12-12-2008](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWtLQ_ho63M) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 46:19 to 46:52: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWtLQ_ho63M&t=2779s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Sức mạnh của sự im lặng | Ajahn Brahm | 12-12-2008](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TExC5PlltSk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 46:20 to 46:53: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TExC5PlltSk&t=2780s