Being Mindful Stories

Story · Ajahn Brahm

The ornamental hermit found in the pub

As told by Ajahn Brahm in How To Be A Happy Hermit | Ajahn Brahm | 15-01-2010

2 min read

Content note: historical details unverified: the ornamental-hermit fashion is usually dated to the 18th century, not the 1860s–70s he gives

The story — as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

somebody went on the internet and they had this little book of weird things and one of the chapters of this book was a chapter in United Kingdom in England about 120 30 years ago where actually being a Hermit was a profession and in the newspapers that would actually adverti for Hermits because what was happening all these really rich people with their Estates in England they would start you know they had the big house and it was a fashionable thing the in thing was to have your own hermit and they would actually build these grottos in their grounds of these these country homes and they make little caves and they'd actually advertise in the newspapers for a Hermit and of course once they got a good one after dinner you know served by their Butlers in his Rich homes then they take their guests for a little walk in their Garden to see their hermit and of course the hermit would give you a little bit of stupid words which everyone think was wise and it would impress your friends in those days every rich person should have one is one of those must have things and I remember one of the stories about this person was advertising they built their Grotto had a big home and they called them ornamental Hermits it's true that's what they're called ornamental Hermits they adverti the newspaper and it's actually really good job because they were describing this one person you'd don't have to work for three years that was your contract and as part of the contract you weren't allowed to cut your hair nor cut your nails nor wash the smellier the better but whatever you wanted to eat they'd actually you know whatever you wanted they'd actually send the best food from their kitchens to feed you and at the end of three years they give you a huge sum of money for being the ornamental hermit but it was actually very difficult to find real Hermits because one story was this guy came in he looked really weird enough really long hair freaky enough to be a real hermit and he would sit in his cave and when the people would come they would he give them sort of wise advice so he was like a professional hermit but apparently he got the sack after four weeks when they found him in the pub after work because that's not really what a Hermit should be doing going to the puff after work you know it's like a full-time hermit it's supposed to be wise and you know but anyway that that was a fashion which lasted about 10 years I think in 1860s and 1870s in England

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 2:39 (to 5:26)

A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

English gentry once hired ornamental hermits to look wise in their gardens; one was sacked after being found in the pub. Ajahn Brahm laughs, then asks why it's so hard for any of us to be alone. Try sitting quietly with yourself for a while today, without a screen, and see who turns up.

In brief (our summary)

Someone showed Ajahn Brahm a book of oddities: in England, wealthy estate owners once made it fashionable to keep their own hermit. They built grottoes and advertised in newspapers for 'ornamental hermits', to be shown off to dinner guests and to utter wise-sounding words. One contract: three years without cutting hair or nails or washing, the best food from the kitchen, and a large sum at the end. Real hermits were hard to find — one convincing-looking hermit was sacked after four weeks when he was found in the pub after work.

Teaching point

Why is it so hard to be alone with ourselves? Even the paid hermit ran to the pub.

When this story may help

  • being alone
  • escaping yourself

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in How To Be A Happy Hermit | Ajahn Brahm | 15-01-2010 · 2010-04-08 · ▶ watch from 2:39 to 5:26 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'the puff' = the pub; 'adverti' = advertise.

The narrative is Ajahn Brahm's own telling, quoted from the talk captions. The summary and reflection are Being Mindful Stories's editorial notes. Please credit the teacher and link the original talk. Markdown version

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