# He said he had been Emperor Ashoka

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-monk-claimed-ashoka-past-life
- Themes: rebirth, Ashoka, Thai monks, faith
- Life situations: hearing extraordinary claims

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A famous Thai monk (unnamed here; Brahm withholds the name) told close monks he had been Emperor Ashoka in a previous life, named his south-Bangkok temple Ashoka Rama after Ashoka's temple at Pataliputra, and — Brahm adds further public signs of the claim in Ubon.

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

he told his close monks that in his previous incarnation he was the emperor Ahsoka of India now he was a very famous monk who doesn't lie he named his Temple in south of Bangkok Ahsoka Rama exactly the same name as ahsoka's temporary built in pataliputa in Patna and even more amazing in full public gays he was giving a big Dharma talk in the town of ubon at Jan Charles Place and out of nowhere from the ceiling this Medallion dropped down is now in his Museum people saw it hundreds of people a medallion of Emperor Ahsoka and don't have any medallions like that in Thailand which which is amazing so have amazing stuff

## Teaching point

Past-life claims from otherwise trustworthy monks still ask for careful hearing.

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

A famous Thai monk, Ajahn Brahm recounts, believed he had been Emperor Ashoka and named his temple accordingly. Whatever happened in past lives, the question that followed mattered more: how should we treat other beings? Do as little harm as you can, to animals and people alike. We're one and the same.

## Source

- [Reincarnation | Ajahn Brahm | 3 Feb 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIrtqS0LkYQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:09:18 to 1:10:20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIrtqS0LkYQ&t=4158s