# A private concert with Rod Stewart

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-rod-stewart-six-people
- Themes: youth, music, stillness
- Life situations: reminiscing

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

As a teenager Ajahn Brahm and his brother go to a gig where only six people turn up — the lead singer was a then-unknown Rod Stewart; 'like a private concert'.

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

i went to this show with my brother only six people so turned up to watch this band you know who the lead singer was who was it no i wasn't mick jagger beatles it was his name again sorry no not jonah not paul mccartney it was rod stewart thank you yeah watched you uh there's only six of us listening to him it was like a private concert in those days

## Teaching point

(Lead-in: from loving rock music he came to love classical music, then the sound of the wind, and finally stillness.)

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

As a teenager, Ajahn Brahm and his brother were among six people at a gig by an unknown singer called Rod Stewart. Later he came to love classical music, then the wind in the trees, and finally the sound of stillness. Loud pleasures tire us. Quieter ones, he found, satisfy far more deeply.

## Source

- [Positive Perspective and Acceptance | Ajahn Brahm | 3 June 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J5YVDTB1bE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 3:12 to 3:57: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J5YVDTB1bE&t=192s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Ajahn Brahm's Personal Experience of Grief | Ajahn Brahm | 22 May 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4qA0xho_oM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 9:37 to 9:53: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4qA0xho_oM&t=577s