# Only you, Ajahn Brahm — the retiring officer

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-prison-officer-wanted-only-brahm
- Themes: prison, service, humility
- Life situations: being asked back, overwork

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Retiring high-security prison officer insists only Ajahn Brahm return to teach; Brahm feels busy and lazy but the request is personal.

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

come back to teach in our prison? And I said I'm too busy, and he said no we really want you to come and teach. Because I really am a very very busy monk, it is Friday night talk, tomorrow morning four o'clock leaving here to get to the airport to catch a plane to Indonesia to give a talk tomorrow night in Medan. 244 minutes I found out today, and then over to another city, six cities

## Teaching point

Sometimes the only invitation that matters names you alone.

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

A retiring prison officer insisted Ajahn Brahm himself come back to teach, despite his packed schedule. Why me? Because, the officer said, none of the prisoners from his classes had ever returned to jail. It was one of the greatest compliments of his life. Never underestimate what patient kindness can do.

## Source

- [Hope | Ajahn Brahm | 8 April 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6OXWEWAeNE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 9:29 to 10:00: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6OXWEWAeNE&t=569s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Finding Positivity in People | Ajahn Brahm | 22 March 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HqPMVOML58) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 13:18 to 13:43: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HqPMVOML58&t=798s