# My soul is dark

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-port-hedland-soul-is-dark
- Themes: compassion, refugees, hope
- Life situations: injustice, refugees

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Years ago at Port Hedland detention centre, Brahm sits with a ~22-year-old Cambodian refugee held 3–4 years. Limited English; the boy says 'My soul is dark. I have no hope.' Brahm never forgets it.

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

going to the Port Heden detention center to see some of the Cambodian refugees who came here and having a talk for 5 10 minutes with this young boy, maybe about 22, 23, who'd been in the Port Head and Detention Center for about 3 4 years. His English was not much, but I remember him telling me sitting opposite this wooden on this wooden little uh table on benches, you know, it's like a barbecue area and just saying, he said, "My soul is dark. I have no hope." And that went straight inside of me. I will never forget that

## Teaching point

Detention without hope darkens a soul — kindness must reach asylum seekers.

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

At the Port Hedland detention centre, a young Cambodian held for years told Ajahn Brahm in halting English: my soul is dark, I have no hope. He never forgot it. Hopelessness is cruel to anyone. Whether it's asylum seekers, prisoners or animals, we can always be a little kinder. Don't let anyone's soul go dark.

## Source

- [Solving life's problems without relying on religious hierarchies | Ajahn Brahm | 20-06-2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIZNqQH1Ghw) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 45:07 to 45:55: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIZNqQH1Ghw&t=2707s

Other tellings of this story:

- [The Essence of Vesak | Ajahn Brahm | 24 May 2013](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBgBiZZA-g8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 54:31 to 55:20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBgBiZZA-g8&t=3271s