# Minus 36 — airports closed

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-minus-36-closed-the-airports
- Themes: travel, cold, wonder, impermanence
- Life situations: travel disruption, extreme weather

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Visiting somewhere so cold (about −36°) that airports and roads shut; wandering in a frozen world becomes the talk's 'infinite wonder' image.

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

minus 36°. Really incredibly cold. So they closed down the airports. There was nothing on the roads. So when I went out they say only mad monks and English men go out in the so to say midday sun but this is in the the wintry cold. I had boots on and scarves and woolly hats and everything. So I was quite insulated from the freezing cold. But it was one of the most magnificent experiences of my life

## Teaching point

When the world freezes, wonder still walks.

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

At minus thirty-six, airports and roads were closed and every animal hibernated. Wrapped in scarves and boots, Ajahn Brahm walked alone through a snowy forest, hearing only the snow crunch. It felt like owning the whole world with no responsibility for it. Find stillness wherever you can. It's magnificent.

## Source

- [Infinite Wander | Ajahn Brahm | 11 December 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEMJ3neFhM4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 24:17 to 24:53: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEMJ3neFhM4&t=1457s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 4 June 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv-Q87noZ8g) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 10:07 to 11:00: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv-Q87noZ8g&t=607s