# The monk with the divine ear sat in Ajahn Chah's chair

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-monk-divine-ear-sat-in-chahs-chair
- Themes: psychic powers, pride, ego, monastery life, Ajahn Chah
- Life situations: success going to the head, spiritual pride

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A monk Ajahn Brahm knew in Thailand claimed he could hear people talking about 12 kilometres away; when tested it was true — a 'divine ear'. Pride followed: one day he sat in Ajahn Chah's chair and said Ajahn Chah was nobody and he was the real abbot. Psychic powers, Brahm notes, are why monastic Buddhism tends to suppress talk of such attainments while the person is alive.

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

and just to make things interesting there was one monk I knew when I first went to Thailand who had that power he was tested out when he said he could hear people talking about 12 kilo meters away. when he made that claim we said you are crazy he said, no it is true and when we went to check in it was absolutely true he had what they say in the suttas a divine ear this incredible hearing And the problem what happened with him was he started getting this psychic power, obviously with incredible meditation then he thought he was so highly attained and one day he actually sat in Ajahn Chah's chair and said... Ajahn Chah is nobody I am the real Abbot here And it was an example of the pride and ego which sometimes comes up when you start to attain such things which is one of the reasons why in monastic Buddhism they are suppressed If you do get any psychic powers we don't talk about it that much especially if the person is still alive If they are dead we don't mind

## Teaching point

Psychic powers can inflate the ego; silence about them protects practice.

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

A monk in Thailand could reportedly hear voices kilometres away. Pride followed: he sat in Ajahn Chah's chair and declared himself the real abbot. Special abilities can swell the ego, which is why monks rarely talk about them. Whatever gifts you have, wear them lightly. Humility protects the path.

## Source

- [Word of the Buddha (Part 1) | Ajahn Brahm | 27 November 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TZfyq1XTd0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 58:20 to 59:28: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TZfyq1XTd0&t=3500s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Ud1.10 Bahiya Sutta - The Discourse About Bahiya | Ajahn Brahm | 14 April 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYbe7W7XRu8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 24:50 to 26:57: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYbe7W7XRu8&t=1490s
- [SN12.70 Susimaparibbajaka Sutta - The Wanderer Susima | Ajahn Brahm | 8 July 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4IfFH9jnE8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 19:59 to 20:59: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4IfFH9jnE8&t=1199s