# He pats the monastery car

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-pats-the-monastery-car
- Themes: humour, kindness, monastery life, cars
- Life situations: broken cars, frustration

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Other monks can't start the car; he pats it, says kind words, pulls the starter — it works. Treat the tired car like a being that came through hot weather to the temple.

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

Pat it okay I admit that I patted it and said said some nice words to it and pull the Str it would work it would so it's true you try that to your car if it if you're cruel to your car it will keep breaking down if you stroke and said there car come on no I know you're tired you come all the way out there a hot weather today you come to you know the temple and it's really really late now

## Teaching point

Kindness starts before the engine does.

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

When the monastery car wouldn't start for the other monks, Ajahn Brahm patted it and thanked it for working so hard in the heat, and it started. He doesn't know why it works. Kindness also eases your own tension. That's why rule one at his monastery is: be compassionate, above every other rule.

## Source

- [Buddhist Values | Ajahn Brahm | 08-01-2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpbWVaXBV4c) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 32:27 to 32:55: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpbWVaXBV4c&t=1947s