# No side entrance — through the public bar

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-pinjarra-pub-lions-club
- Themes: humour, monastic life, Australia, embarrassment
- Life situations: awkward entrances, public speaking

## Synopsis (editorial 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.

## 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?

## Teaching point

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

## 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.

## Source

- [Freedom Of Desire | Ajahn Brahm | 27 November 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR0lYr9JctE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 12:00 to 13:20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR0lYr9JctE&t=720s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Buddhist Values | Ajahn Brahm | 08-01-2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpbWVaXBV4c) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 17:42 to 18:14: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpbWVaXBV4c&t=1062s