# Meeting the monk who could read minds

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-mind-reading-monk-acceptance
- Themes: acceptance, unconditional love, fear of judgement, meditation
- Life situations: fear of being judged, shame about thoughts, seeking acceptance

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

As a very young monk Ajahn Brahm is afraid to meet a reputed mind-reader in case his thoughts are exposed. When he finally goes, he feels so completely accepted and loved — faults and all, without criticism — that he wants to sit there forever (until he is moved on for the next visitor).

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

you know I was really afraid once it was this monk this monk who was supposed to be very very powerful could read minds and people actually told me examples he he was doing this to other people and I was only a very young monk at the time I said you want to see this monk I said no thank you you I was afraid he'd read my mind and find out what I was really thinking about and tell other people do you want your mind red really red and me tell you all the things you're thinking about or thought about today all your weird fantasies and ideas oh no thank you but what actually happened you know I've got the courage to see this MK and straight away you know my mind was so peaceful because this mon was so kind so kind and accepting and even though I was a really young monk you know full of all defilements and just not trained at all it felt so accepted it felt so accepted that was one of the first times I just wanted to sit down and never leave I just want to stay there forever CU it's so rare to be with a person who accepts you 100% totally without any criticism at all and I knew I wasn't perfect I knew I had lots and lots of faults and I knew he knew that too because he was going to love me unconditionally anyway that's just a wonderful feeling there you are a person who is going to feed all my faults not with anger get out you don't belong you're not good enough which is yeah you're not perfect that's good enough it was a beautiful moment of spiritual peace being with someone who would just accept you and that's why I just wanted to be there forever unfortunately there's many other people wanted to be there forever as well so they got got kicked out for the next person to coming

## Teaching point

Unconditional acceptance dissolves defilements; this is how to meditate and how to treat others.

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

Young Ajahn Brahm dreaded meeting a monk said to read minds. Instead he felt so accepted, faults and all, that he never wanted to leave. Most harm comes from desperation, not malice. Meet yourself and others without criticism, and anger and defilements start to fade by themselves.

## Source

- [Anger Eating Demons | Ajahn Brahm | 07-10-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me7Wm5LOpx0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 40:21 to 42:31: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me7Wm5LOpx0&t=2421s