# Rajapaksa served baked beans and said 'I'm a failure'

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-rajapaksa-baked-beans-im-a-failure
- Themes: politics, honesty, leadership, Sri Lanka
- Life situations: leadership pressure, admitting failure

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Invited to breakfast at the Sri Lankan presidential palace, Brahm is served baked beans by President Rajapaksa himself. Rubbing sleep from his eyes, the president says honestly — 'Ajahn Brahm, I'm a failure' — because he could not find a peaceful settlement with the Tamil Tigers.

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

the president of Sri Lanka at the time that was Raja Paka. So he invited me to his palace for breakfast and number one I was impressed that whoever these governments are they really know how to do their research. What do you get a monk for breakfast in Sri Lanka? Correct. You've heard the story. I don't know where he got the baked beans from. It wasn't a national dish in Sri Lanka and he served me himself with baked beans. But the one thing which I really know remember was when he came in he's you know he was just obviously just came out of bed because you know he just has to stay up late at night. He was rubbing in his eyes and as soon as he saw me it was like a moment of honesty. He knew I wasn't a politician. And he told me, he said, "Ajan Brah, I'm a failure

## Teaching point

Even a president at the height of popularity can admit failure when he drops the politician's mask.

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

At breakfast in Sri Lanka's presidential palace, the president, still rubbing sleep from his eyes, served Ajahn Brahm baked beans and confided: I'm a failure. He'd hoped for a peaceful settlement to the civil war and couldn't find one. Honesty shows the burden leaders carry. Be gentle when judging people with impossible jobs.

## Source

- [Accepting Life's Imperfections | Ajahn Brahm | 3 February 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVVrTbm7eqg) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 40:19 to 41:35: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVVrTbm7eqg&t=2419s