# Ronnie Kray's promise

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-ronnie-kray-few-quid
- Themes: prison, goodness, non-judgement, compassion
- Life situations: visiting prisoners, judging criminals

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

One of the most notorious prisoners he visited in England was Ronnie Kray, the mentally disturbed one of East London's Kray twins. As Ajahn Brahm left, Kray thanked him and said if he ever got a few quid he'd send some to the monastery. He never did — he never had any money and died in prison — but the kindness shocked a man brought up to think such people were simply evil.

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

One of the most notorious prisoners I ever met was was Ronnie Cray. He was actually one of the Cray twins in East London. He was the one who was the crazy one. He was actually mentally disturbed and he would do some terrible evil things to others. But when I went to see him just before I left, he said, "Ajent Brah just, you know, thanks for visiting. If I ever get a few quid, I'll send some to your monastery." He never did because he didn't have any quid. He was in died in prison.

## Teaching point

Even notorious criminals have goodness that can come out given encouragement.

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

Ronnie Kray, one of London's most feared criminals, thanked the young monk for visiting and promised a few quid for the monastery if he ever had any. He never did, but the kindness surprised Ajahn Brahm. There's good in even the hardest people. Encouragement helps it come out, in them and in us.

## Source

- [Our Mind and Our Health | Ajahn Brahm | 7 July 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irCk-DJXisM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:08:44 to 1:09:25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irCk-DJXisM&t=4124s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Having Positive Attitudes towards Everybody | Ajahn Brahm | 12 March 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsIU4DM27nQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 11:29 to 12:05: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsIU4DM27nQ&t=689s
- [Kindness, Generosity and Forgiveness | Ajahn Brahm | 8 July 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLrhGW7GEjM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 10:08 to 11:27: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLrhGW7GEjM&t=608s
- [Emotional Intelligence | Ajahn Brahm | 13 May 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLnzgJSbnNE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 39:02 to 39:40: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLnzgJSbnNE&t=2342s
- [Peace at Christmas Time | Ajahn Brahm | 18 Dec 2015](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otNcxuDhkHU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 38:57 to 39:22: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otNcxuDhkHU&t=2337s
- [Sense of Friendship and Community | Ajahn Brahm | 23-07-2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZQ-D-VK20I) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 6:06 to 6:28: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZQ-D-VK20I&t=366s
- [Secular Buddhism and Reincarnation | Ajahn Brahm | 13 December 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QzWCNEguA0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 19:35 to 20:08: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QzWCNEguA0&t=1175s
- [MN89: Dhammacetiya Sutta - Monuments to the Dhamma | Ajahn Brahm | 13 March 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thdr-DhNOA8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 36:53 to 37:26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thdr-DhNOA8&t=2213s