# Six months of silence

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-six-month-silent-retreat-inspired-others
- Themes: retreat, silence, service, example
- Life situations: taking a break, feeling unproductive, spiritual practice

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Ajahn Brahm spends six months in a little hut in total silence, seeing no one: a monk leaves food in a box, he eats and returns the clean bowl. He wonders whether he's just being lazy, not teaching or helping anyone, and near the end feels guilty enough to think of coming out early — but stays the full six months. Afterwards many people thank him: it inspired them to see it could be done.

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

I did a six-month retreat, pure silence, never saw a human being for six months, never said a word. And I first of all thought, am I just being lazy? I'm not teaching. I'm not helping. I'm not doing anything for anybody for 6 months. Just staying in little hut. A mug would bring food and put it in the box. I wouldn't see them. And I go to that box, open it, see if there was any food in the bowl, which there was. After eating, clean my bowl, put it back again. And that's how it worked for 6 months. And I I must admit I did feel a little guilty towards the end. Maybe I should come out early and do something. But no, I stayed for 6 months. Then afterwards so many people said thank you. That was really inspiring that people could see it can be done by example.

## Teaching point

Sometimes the deepest service is the example of silence, not more words.

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

Ajahn Brahm spent six months alone in a hut, food left in a box, half-guilty that he was being lazy and helping no one. Afterwards so many people thanked him; they'd seen it could be done. Sometimes the best help isn't more words but quiet example. Being peaceful can be a gift to others too.

## Source

- [Happiness and Wanting | Ajahn Brahm | 24 February 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taAa3uWPm2o) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 38:35 to 39:46: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taAa3uWPm2o&t=2315s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Stress and Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 12 July 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNJGg_XVfvo) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 20:45 to 22:05: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNJGg_XVfvo&t=1245s
- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 26th March 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm2gkl9-7Yc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 10:29 to 11:04: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm2gkl9-7Yc&t=629s