# The politician who talked the walk

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-singapore-charity-walk-politician
- Themes: authenticity, integrity, generosity, humour
- Life situations: leading by example, hypocrisy, public roles

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

On a free afternoon in Singapore, Ajahn Brahm takes his followers to a charity walk raising funds for a fellow monk's indebted Buddhist library. A politician speaks first, wishing everyone well; asked whether he is actually going on the walk, he says no, he's off to another event. Ajahn Brahm tells him he is one of the politicians who 'talks the walk but doesn't walk the talk' — and he takes it well.

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

that reminded me that i was in singapore many years ago and i did have a free afternoon i can't actually remember what they're like but had a free afternoon and i did hear that one of you know the fellow monks he was the the head of the buddhist library in singapore and they were in a lot of debt because they wanted to get a good center but you know it's very expensive and they were having to pay off that so i heard they were having a charity walk in the afternoon so all the people who were following me over in singapore i said if you feel this afternoon let's go and help somebody else let's do some some nice kindness and raise some funds for one of my mates so we all went over there and of course the head mark over there was very very surprised and very happy that i turned up and that's because i was well known over there i was also asked to give a little speech but before i gave the speech it was a politician gave a speech first they invited a politician to also to speak at this event and he said you know best of luck i really support this it's a good temple and all the best and then i asked him when i gave my talk i said are you actually going on the walk he said no no it's too important i just i'm just giving the speech i'm going to another event and so i told him he said you're one of the politicians who talks the walk but you don't walk your talk and he took it well

## Teaching point

Practise what you teach; spirituality that isn't lived is superficial.

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

A politician opened a charity walk with a fine speech and then left for another event, so Ajahn Brahm teased him for talking the walk but not walking the talk. He took it well. Words cost little. Whatever you say you value, kindness, patience, forgiveness, practise it today, especially when you're tired.

## Source

- [Facing Difficult Situations in Life | Ajahn Brahm | 6 October 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yy0k6zefVM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 2:50 to 4:38: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yy0k6zefVM&t=170s

Other tellings of this story:

- [阿姜布拉姆佛法講座: 如何面對生命中的困境?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atZzBsr_ffQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 2:48 to 4:21: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atZzBsr_ffQ&t=168s
- [Menghadapi Situasi yang Sulit Dalam Hidup | Ajahn Brahm | 6 October 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCOm9Cy50Cc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 2:48 to 4:42: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCOm9Cy50Cc&t=168s