# Meditate in the restroom

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Analogy
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-restroom-constipation-meditation
- Themes: rest, work, humour, meditation
- Life situations: burnout at work, too many obligations

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

In the US toilets are called restrooms. When tired or stressed, find an empty cubicle and meditate. If the boss asks why you were twenty minutes, say you were constipated — truthfully: it was the brain that was constipated.

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

in United States they call it restroom. What a wonderful name it is. So, if you are tired, if you are stressed, where should you go? The restroom. And so when you enter the restroom, you find a nice empty cubicle, you sit there and meditate in the restroom. And if your boss comes and says afterwards, you've been in there for 20 minutes. Said, well, I was constipated. Oh, well, very okay. And you're not breaking your precept, you're telling the truth. It wasn't your bowels were constipated, it was your brain constipated.

## Teaching point

Rest is productive; kind excuses can protect a needed break without breaking precepts.

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

Tired at work? Ajahn Brahm suggests a quiet cubicle and twenty minutes of meditation. If the boss asks, say you were constipated: true, it was your brain. Many obligations are ones we sign ourselves up for. Regular rest isn't slacking. It makes you more efficient, and everyone wins.

## Source

- [Energy in our Body and Mind from Inspiration | Ajahn Brahm | 2 November 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWz3LAAj-J0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 58:01 to 58:47: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWz3LAAj-J0&t=3481s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Detachment | Ajahn Brahm | 18th March 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xig9D9B8XHQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:29:38 to 1:30:09: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xig9D9B8XHQ&t=5378s
- [Let's Talk About Old Age | Ajahn Brahm | 17 May 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGwf48aokyE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 57:28 to 58:10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGwf48aokyE&t=3448s