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Story · Ajahn Brahm

The ranger's spot check hit a fire drill

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Trauma and Tragedy | Ajahn Brahm | 12-02-2010

1 min read

Content note: named public figure

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

the local ranger of our Shire decided to do a spot check on us, on our monastery, you know. Because to make sure we had everything going. And it just so happened that all the monks were in our fire suits, we had a fire and things going, we were doing a drill. It was true. And this ranger just said "Did you guys know I was coming?" I said "No no no no no." And they were in the middle of a drill and he did a spot check

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 44:05 (to 44:37)

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

After the bushfire, the monks prepared so thoroughly that a ranger's surprise inspection found them mid-drill in full fire suits. Had they been tipped off? No. Hard experiences can make us stronger instead of holding us back. In relationships too, difficulties test commitment and teach forgiveness.

In brief (our summary)

After a bushfire-era Fire and Emergency Service certificate (Mitchell Roberts presenting), a shire ranger did an unannounced spot check and found every monk already in fire suits mid-drill — 'Did you know I was coming?' No.

Teaching point

Prepare so thoroughly that even a surprise inspection looks planned.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Trauma and Tragedy | Ajahn Brahm | 12-02-2010 · 2010-04-11 · ▶ watch from 44:05 to 44:37 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: Manual (volunteer) captions; occasional misspellings kept as is.

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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