# 'You're not getting old, Ajahn — you're already old'

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-monks-youre-already-old
- Themes: ageing, honesty, humour, self-acceptance
- Life situations: getting older, self-improvement pressure

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Ajahn Brahm told his monks he was getting old. A very kind Swiss monk said, with touching sincerity — monks don't lie — 'No, Ajahn, you're not getting old.' Pause. 'You're already old.' Which is true; he's almost 70.

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

my monks, a very kind monks, this is one of my monks, a very wonderful monk from uh Switzerland. And you know when he knows his story that I told the monks, I'm getting old and they said, "No, Ajam, you're not getting old." And that's really touching just the way they said it with the sincerity because monks don't lie. said, "No, you're not getting old." Ah, you're already old. Which is true.

## Teaching point

Told while saying that years of trying to improve haven't changed him much — but he is at peace with himself.

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

Ajahn Brahm told his monks he was getting old, and a sincere Swiss monk assured him he wasn't: he was already old. Almost seventy, Ajahn Brahm laughs that his talks haven't changed much in decades. Never mind improving. Being at peace with yourself, kind and connected, is a wonderful thing.

## Source

- [Having Positive Attitudes towards Everybody | Ajahn Brahm | 12 March 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsIU4DM27nQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 4:21 to 4:58: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsIU4DM27nQ&t=261s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Confidence, Fear and Anxiety | Ajahn Brahm | 28 January 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnYwHoYJID8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:29:12 to 1:29:25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnYwHoYJID8&t=5352s
- [Learning to be Content - Armadale Meditation Group | Ajahn Brahmavamso | 16 March 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6GqYS2jSC4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 6:06 to 6:28: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6GqYS2jSC4&t=366s