# Cattamalo's real worry about the tsunami

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-penang-tsunami-cattamalo-abbot-worry
- Themes: humour, tsunami, monastery life, fear, kamma
- Life situations: after a disaster, responsibility anxiety

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Ajahn Brahm is in Penang (he first says Phuket) when the 2004 tsunami hits. Afterwards he learns that his second monk Ajahn Cattamalo had been ringing frantically — not so much from concern for Brahm as from fear that if Brahm died, Cattamalo would have to become abbot.

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

I still remember when the tsunami hit, I remember that very clearly because I was actually in Phuket that day, sorry not Phuket, I was in Penang, sorry, that day when the tsunami hit and of course the tsunami killed a few people in Penang Island as well. The reason I remember that is because my second monk at that time Ajahn Cattamalo who was very, very concerned, he was ringing up to try and find out how Ajahn Brahm was, because I was in the tsunami zone. I found out afterwards he wasn't so concerned about me but was very concerned if I died he'd have to be abbot (laughs). That was a big worry. I remember just when I returned and the newspapers were asking all the religious leaders - why did that happen?

## Teaching point

Even in disaster, the mind's private fears can be absurdly human — and worth laughing at afterwards.

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

When the 2004 tsunami struck, Ajahn Brahm was in Penang. His deputy rang frantically, mostly worried he might have to become abbot. Back home, reporters asked why the disaster happened. Wrong question, he said. People needed help right then. Spend less time on why, and more on what you can do now.

## Source

- [Meditation Kamma | Ajahn Brahm | 06-06-2008](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M5Fxmq5c9s) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 4:45 to 5:41: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M5Fxmq5c9s&t=285s