# No Sex in the Monastery

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-sarah-jessica-parker-no-sex-in-the-monastery
- Themes: humour, media, renunciation
- Life situations: needing a laugh

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Someone told him Sarah Jessica Parker had been seen in a US coffee shop reading Opening the Door of Your Heart. He imagined it was only a matter of time before he got a cameo in Sex and the City — within his precepts, of course. They'd have to retitle the episode 'No Sex in the Monastery'. Then he realised, knowing human nature, nobody would tune in. End of idea.

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

some years ago somebody told me that uh Sarah Jessica Parker from Sex in a City. She was seen in a coffee shop in United States reading my book Open the Door of Your Heart. She was a Buddhist. She was a follower. So I thought, "Wow, if Sarah Jessica Parker of Sex in the City was one of my disciples, it was only a matter of time that I get a cameo invited to actually to come in to one of her episodes." And I thought that would be really interesting. Aan Brown in one of the episodes in Sex in the City. And then I started thinking, what would it be like? I I I wouldn't mind doing anything. Just within reason, not breaking my precepts. We'd have to change the episode title to instead of Sex in the City, No Sex in the Monastery. And then I thought, hang on, I don't think anyone would tune into that episode cuz I know human nature. So So that was the end of that idea.

## Teaching point

A light aside: what sells isn't what brings peace.

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

Hearing that Sarah Jessica Parker had been seen reading his book, Ajahn Brahm imagined a cameo, retitled 'No Sex in the Monastery', then admitted no one would watch. Being able to laugh at your own daydreams of fame is healthy. What sells and what brings peace are rarely the same thing.

## Source

- [Being Afraid | Ajahn Brahm | 16 March 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYHTHj4PGPU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 3:00 to 4:15: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYHTHj4PGPU&t=180s

Other tellings of this story:

- [How to Deal with Rejection | Ajahn Brahm | 28 February 2025](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjmkj8NpH7s) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 50:29 to 51:28: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjmkj8NpH7s&t=3029s