# Parachute the monks into Syria

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-parachute-monks-into-syria
- Themes: peace, meditation, humour, war
- Life situations: conflict around you, feeling powerless about world events

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Someone told Ajahn Brahm about an episode of the ABC's Q&A on violence in the Middle East. Asked for a solution, a panellist — the editor of The Spectator — cited a study (at Sussex University, as reported) finding that when a few people meditated even for seven minutes, everyone nearby became calmer and less aggressive. His solution: get a few Buddhist monks and parachute them into Syria. Asked about volunteers, Ajahn Brahm jokes he could suggest a few monks from his monastery.

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

apparently somebody saw this on Q a the Q a TV program on a Monday night I've never seen that but every now and again people actually hear something on that program and this was say uh a program about the problems in the Middle East and the wars and the terrorism stuff going on there and they had one of the presenters there was the editor of The Spectator magazine a very influential magazine in uh in England and they asked her what was his solution or give some advice try and stop the violence in the Middle East in Syria and Iraq and all the bombings and stuff which go on and he said he quoted there had been a study done in Sussex University in the UK though when people were meditating even for seven minutes they said everybody in the vicinity also calmed down and became peaceful unless fighter less aggressive just actually the a few people meditating had calmed everybody else down so this guy on TV on ABC said his solution was getting a few Buddhist monks and parachuting them into Syria

## Teaching point

A peaceful mind affects the people around it — but use wisdom about where you apply courage.

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

A TV panellist cited a study showing a few meditators calm everyone near them, and suggested parachuting monks into Syria. Ajahn Brahm jokes he could name some volunteers. The truth underneath: your peace affects others. Don't be reckless, but don't let fear make your decisions either. Choose wisdom, kindness and a little courage.

## Source

- [Courage | Ajahn Brahm | 8 Jul 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKlatq90npY) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 26:34 to 27:46: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKlatq90npY&t=1594s