# Do you know Ajahn Brahm? — asked on Adam's Peak

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-mike-nahan-adams-peak-ajahn-brahm
- Themes: humour, travel, Sri Lanka, reputation
- Life situations: needing a laugh, feeling unknown

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

WA politician Mike Nahan told a BSWA gathering that climbing Adam's Peak (Sri Pada) in Sri Lanka, his guide asked who he was; when he said a WA minister, the guide asked: do you know Ajahn Brahm?

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

the head of the conservative party here in west australia mike nahan some years ago you know he came i think was the head of multicultural affairs when the the tory government was in power here in western australia and so he came along to one of his buddhist um events and he went on to the microphone and he said i just returned from sri lanka i'm part of going to sri lanka this was many years ago was climbing up adam's peak a sui pada and he said the guide there was talking to him and said who are you and he was a minister in the the state government what state government west australia oh do you know our john brown he said right now what they realized that was quite well known over there

## Teaching point

Reputation travels farther than you think — sometimes further than home.

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

A WA government minister climbing a holy mountain in Sri Lanka told his guide where he was from. Western Australia? Then had he met Ajahn Brahm? Reputations travel further than we imagine. Ajahn Brahm laughs and admits he plans none of his talks. Let your good name be built from kindness.

## Source

- [Kindness, Generosity and Forgiveness | Ajahn Brahm | 8 July 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLrhGW7GEjM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 30:47 to 31:46: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLrhGW7GEjM&t=1847s