# Mistaken for a circus clown

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-mistaken-for-circus-clown
- Themes: self-image, reputation, humour
- Life situations: worrying what people think, being laughed at, feeling conspicuous

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Walking with his cousin through Stoke-on-Trent one Sunday morning, robed Ajahn Brahm notices people pointing and laughing more than usual — then turns a corner to a big billboard: the circus was in town. They thought he was one of the clowns.

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

the other time when I was visiting a cousin Know that cousin eight. He came here to visit many years ago in stoke-on-trent. That's where he lived and so During their spending time with your loved ones with your friends, so instead of staying in here We meditate we went for a walk walk on a Sunday morning as a beautiful day walking down the streets And I don't know what it is about me must have some sort of charisma, but people were supporting at me and smiling and laughing And I just making people laugh as a great as a great skill But it was actually more people pointing and laughing at me than usual And so I didn't really want to know what was going on well You know one badly dressed or something or but no They were just laughing at me all the time and then when we turned a corner I found out why there's this big billboard a big sight the circus was in town And they thought I must have been one of the clowns And I did what make people happy is fine by me

## Teaching point

Don't worry so much about what people think of you; making them laugh is fine.

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

Strangers in Stoke-on-Trent pointed and laughed all morning, and the reason was a circus billboard: they took the robed monk for one of the clowns. Instead of feeling foolish, he was glad to have made them happy. We spend so much energy on what others think of us. Sometimes the kindest response is simply to enjoy the joke.

## Source

- [Stress - Overreaction to Life | Ajahn Brahm | 9 March 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEpeaWywKi4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 34:28 to 35:37: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEpeaWywKi4&t=2068s

Other tellings of this story:

- [No Fear | Ajahn Brahm | 20-05-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIMWm5JnNrE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 25:41 to 26:31: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIMWm5JnNrE&t=1541s
- [Courage | Ajahn Brahm | 8 Jul 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKlatq90npY) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 24:14 to 25:34: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKlatq90npY&t=1454s
- [Interconnectedness | Ajahn Brahm | 29-06-2007](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dd38x5XqKA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 14:28 to 15:50: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dd38x5XqKA&t=868s
- [Buddhism and Love | Ajahn Brahm | 12 February 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtNwbOd4m9I) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 18:43 to 20:24: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtNwbOd4m9I&t=1123s
- [Peace at Christmas Time | Ajahn Brahm | 18 Dec 2015](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otNcxuDhkHU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 21:13 to 21:43: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otNcxuDhkHU&t=1273s