# Muslim woman on the Buddhist retreat

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-muslim-woman-retreat-hijab
- Themes: interfaith, retreat, inclusion, Islam
- Life situations: retreat, interfaith

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

At the Redemptorist retreat centre in North Perth a woman in hijab joins his retreat; she removes it inside per her rules, finds nothing wrong, thanks him — embrace across religions.

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

lady came to one of the retreats which I was giving before we had our own retreat center. This was over in North Perth in the Redemptous Monastery Retreat Center. And she came in a hijab. And I said, "You're a Muslim." "Yeah, look at me. Of course I am." She said, "I'm come on your retreat." "Okay, I won't tell." See, I don't have to be serious like that. So she came into the retreat, took off the hijab and because inside you didn't need to wear it according to the rules and she said, "I can't see anything wrong with this. It was a wonderful retreat

## Teaching point

You can't go to war with someone you've just sat retreat with.

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

A woman in a hijab quietly joined Ajahn Brahm's retreat. Inside, where her rules allowed, she took it off, and afterwards said she'd found nothing wrong, only a wonderful retreat. When we know each other, war becomes impossible. From a plane window, he notes, you never see borders. Welcome everyone in.

## Source

- [Buddhism and Worldly Events | Ajahn Brahm | 11th March 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbvKfJS-_vo) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:07:06 to 1:07:42: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbvKfJS-_vo&t=4026s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Why Do People Come Here? | Ajahn Brahm | 18 December 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwPyLq9Pxug) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 14:32 to 15:30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwPyLq9Pxug&t=872s