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Story · Ajahn Brahm

No side entrance — through the public bar

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Freedom Of Desire | Ajahn Brahm | 27 November 2020

1 min read

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

pub in Pinjara many years ago. There was I know these little stories about monks just getting into trouble. Not real big trouble, but I was giving a talk at the Lions Club and it was in the back room of a pub. That's where they have these talks. And I thought there'd always be like a side entrance around the back. we can go around the back and said, "No, there's only one way in and out to that room through the bar." And so, so the driver dropped me off at the entrance cuz we're not allowed to drive at the entrance. They went off to do something, pick you up later. And I was outside the pub in my [laughter] Thank you for laugh encouraging in my robes, not knowing what to do next. and he said, "Oh, the horse in the back." And I could actually, it's a straight line. I could see it through the door down the back where that room was. Okay, let's go for it. Very courageous. So, I put my head down. I didn't look to the left, the right, and I just went for it. And I almost almost got there almost like 80% of the way. And then somebody hand on my shoulders, pulled me around. Braum, what you drinking? Do you want a beer?

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 12:00 (to 13:20)

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

Invited to speak to a Lions Club meeting behind a country pub, Ajahn Brahm found the only way in was through the public bar. Head down, he nearly made it, until a hand grabbed his shoulder and offered him a beer. He loves telling stories against himself. Laughing at your own silly moments keeps the ego small.

In brief (our summary)

Lions Club talk at the back of a Pinjarra pub; he expects a side door for the monk — there is only one way in, straight through the public bar.

Teaching point

Sometimes the only door is the awkward one through the middle of the noise.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Freedom Of Desire | Ajahn Brahm | 27 November 2020 · 2020-11-27 · ▶ watch from 12:00 to 13:20 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

1 other telling of this story

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions with machine-added punctuation; words left exactly as captioned. 'Pinjara' = Pinjarra.

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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