# They preferred the taller Islamic teacher

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-schoolgirls-preferred-taller-teacher
- Themes: ego, humour, education, interfaith
- Life situations: teaching teens, ego bruises

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Multi-faith school visit: feedback says girls preferred the blond Western Islamic speaker — taller than the short Buddhist monk. Ages 14–15; he does not mind.

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

Pinjara school the was it Para school? No I think it was another school. It's a girl school. They wanted to have different teachers. one teach on Buddhism, one teach on Islam, one teach on uh Hinduism. I did the Buddhism bit and afterwards I got the feedback from them. He said, "No, we preferred the the Islamic man." He was a westerner because he was blondhaired and much taller than you. [snorts] These were 14, 15 year old school girls

## Teaching point

Ego still hears height when the Dhamma was the point.

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

After a multi-faith school visit, Ajahn Brahm heard that the teenage girls preferred the speaker on Islam: he was taller and blond. They weren't listening to anyone's words. He laughs, then turns it to ego. Instead of asking what the self is, ask what you take yourself to be. Notice the assumptions, then hold them lightly.

## Source

- [What is Ego? | Ajahn Brahm | 17 May 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5V1tsQHSkk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 33:45 to 34:18: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5V1tsQHSkk&t=2025s