Being Mindful Stories

Story · Ajahn Brahm

The Rottweilers weren't chained

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Being Afraid | Ajahn Brahm | 16 March 2018

1 min read

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

I just remember just going to one person's house and she had these two Rottweilers chained up and so he said, "No, it's okay. You don't need to be afraid of the Rottweilers. They're all chained up." So they walk right past them and only afterwards. No, she will. Almost had a heart attack. Oh my goodness, I forgot to put the chains on.

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 45:29 (to 45:56)

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

Told the two Rottweilers were chained, the monk strolled right past them, and only then did the owner realise she'd forgotten the chains. Animals read fear in a moment. Ajahn Brahm believes calm kindness protects you. Use common sense with strange dogs, but notice how much fear invites the very trouble it dreads.

In brief (our summary)

Visiting a house, he's told not to worry about the two Rottweilers — they're chained up — so he walks right past them. Only afterwards does the owner nearly have a heart attack: she'd forgotten to put the chains on. He reflects that animals pick up fear; if you're kind and unafraid, they won't harm you.

Teaching point

Fearlessness and kindness are sensed even by animals.

When this story may help

  • fear of dogs
  • unnecessary fear

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Being Afraid | Ajahn Brahm | 16 March 2018 · 2018-03-18 · ▶ watch from 45:29 to 45:56 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned.

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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