# “How about the Holy Ghost, then?”

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-new-norcia-holy-ghost
- Themes: humour, interfaith friendship, ghosts
- Life situations: interfaith friendship, fear of ghosts

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Being shown around the creaky old Benedictine abbey at New Norcia, Ajahn Brahm teases Abbot Placid by asking if there are ghosts. “No, no, Ajahn, we don't believe in ghosts.” — “You don't believe in ghosts? How about the Holy Ghost, then?”

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

So I was walking there with the Abbott, the performer Abbott, Abbert Placid, and I said to him, he said, "Are there any?" Actually, I was leading him on because I know a lot about Christianity and they don't believe in ghosts because they believe that once you die, you go to heaven or hell or in limbo or something, but they don't believe in ghosts. So, I decided to have some fun at the good Abbott's expense. I said, "Are there any ghosts, you know, in this abbey? It's very old. I'm sure many people have died." And he said, "No, no, Ajan, we don't believe in ghosts. You don't believe in ghosts?" "No, we don't believe in ghosts. How about the Holy Ghost then?

## Teaching point

(Light interfaith humour introducing ghost stories; ghosts are nothing to fear.)

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

Shown round an old creaky abbey, Ajahn Brahm asked the abbot whether there were ghosts. No, we don't believe in ghosts. Then what about the Holy Ghost? Friendship across faiths has room for teasing. Whatever's out there, he says, there's nothing to fear. Most stories about it are gentle ones.

## Source

- [One Life, Many Lives | by Ajahn Brahm | 13-01-2012](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeKFsGSEi94) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 7:47 to 8:30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeKFsGSEi94&t=467s

Other tellings of this story:

- [How to Deal with Difficulties | Ajahn Brahm | 29 April 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teELqB3MAG4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 10:10 to 10:54: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teELqB3MAG4&t=610s
- [What Is Truth? | Ajahn Brahm | 26-02-2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qulM37mcksA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 7:41 to 8:18: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qulM37mcksA&t=461s
- [Infinite Wander | Ajahn Brahm | 11 December 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEMJ3neFhM4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 34:45 to 35:33: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEMJ3neFhM4&t=2085s
- [Learning How to Live Together | Ajahn Brahm | 2 February 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XcIDHLRCk8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 29:11 to 29:49: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XcIDHLRCk8&t=1751s
- [How to be of Service | Ajahn Brahm | 11 June 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgKWRJ3Po44) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 12:30 to 13:13: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgKWRJ3Po44&t=750s
- [Dhamma Talk | Ajahn Brahm | 28 April 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFy2ztNpf64) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 3:03 to 3:30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFy2ztNpf64&t=183s
- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 10 November 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH0C2f5OWT4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:12:01 to 1:12:35: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH0C2f5OWT4&t=4321s