# No escape, even in the toilet

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-singapore-airport-toilet-attendant
- Themes: fame, suffering, humour, monastic life
- Life situations: exhaustion, unwanted attention, travel

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Returning exhausted from Los Angeles via Singapore, Ajahn Brahm is met at the gate by supporters with an airport buggy who take him for tea and ask about meditation, Buddhism and family. Tired, and unable as a monk to say 'leave me alone', he says he needs the toilet — his way of escaping for a little peace. But as soon as he walks in, the toilet attendant recognises him: 'Ajahn Brahm, can I ask you some questions about Buddhism?'

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

the worst thing worst occasion one worst stories about this was when I was just returning from Los Angeles this it's a long journey on that aircraft and unfortunately when I fly Singapore Airlines there's people in the airport who know me and they meet me at the gate you know this is in the internal area because they got these little cars they can go anywhere in the airport so it's very nice they go and take me for a cup of tea or cup of coffee and they start asking questions about their meditation or about Buddhism about their family life and gee that you know if you're a counselor you've got an office and you can actually secretary have appointments and certain times for me that it's anytime and I got really I must admit that that time I got a bit tired and think just can't you leave me alone and of course you can't really say that as a monk instead I said I need to go to the toilet and I did you know I could hold on for a bit longer but going to the toiler was the way of escaping and sitting down in a place I could have a bit of peace and quiet but of course what happened as soon as I went into the L the toilet attendant recognized me oh a br can I ask you some questions about Buddhism even in the toilet I can't escape

## Teaching point

Fame brings its own kind of suffering; every situation has its own suffering.

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

Exhausted at Singapore airport, Ajahn Brahm escaped kind supporters by heading to the toilet, only for the attendant to ask about Buddhism. Even there, no escape. Fame has its own suffering, and so does wealth. Every situation has some. Knowing that, you can stop envying others and settle into your own life.

## Source

- [Happiness Industry: Joy At Last! | Ajahn Brahm | 27-07-2007](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex5a4a40k6s) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 22:49 to 24:20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex5a4a40k6s&t=1369s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Just Do It | Ajahn Brahm | 12 July 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SneCXz51CJw) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 8:50 to 12:11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SneCXz51CJw&t=530s