Being Mindful Stories

Story · Ajahn Brahm

The irresistible tobacco

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Destiny, fate or free will? | Ajahn Brahm | 22-02-2015

1 min read

Content note: tobacco (he notes this was before it was known to cause cancer)

The story — as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

or like the famous one which I got sucked into when I was of all places at Cambridge University okay I'm supposed to be intelligent I'm not I'm stupid because this was for St Bruno tobacco advertising I always remember this one cuz the advert was on the TV that when you the aroma this was before we knew that sort of no tobacco was causes cancer the aroma of some Bruno tobacco was irresistible to the opposite sex and it was a crazy advertisement this ordinary looking guy you know not particularly big or strong or handsome this ordinary looking middle-aged guy was walking down the street and he took out a pipe and put this tuno tobacco in and lit it and as soon as he lit it he went past his like news agent shop and you know actually real news agent you don't get these drop drop dead gorgeous models working in it but there was one in this street absolutely gorgeous and as soon as she smelled the aroma she was totally Enchanted she jumped over the counter following this guy wining to do his every command then he went past another shop this gorgeous red head and then another shop after about 1 minute had his whole line of beautiful women following him some Bruno tobacco irr resistable now who would believe that you know who would actually take it seriously who would actually go out the next day and buy a pipe and some some Bruno tobacco I did and I knit it walked down the street expecting all these beautiful women to jump over the couch and follow me the only thing which fed me was a dog but I felt so stupid afterwards How could an intelligent guy supposed to be intelligent guy get sucked in like that

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 21:24 (to 23:29)

A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

A Cambridge student bought a pipe and St Bruno tobacco because an advert promised women would chase him down the street; only a dog followed. Ajahn Brahm still blushes. Advertising shapes us more than we admit. Our real freedom may be 'free won't': noticing the urge and choosing not to follow it.

In brief (our summary)

At Cambridge, a TV advert claims the aroma of St Bruno pipe tobacco is irresistible to women: an ordinary middle-aged man lights his pipe and gorgeous shop assistants leap over their counters to follow him down the street. The next day young Ajahn Brahm buys a pipe and some St Bruno, lights it and walks down the street waiting for the women. The only thing that follows him is a dog.

Teaching point

Even 'intelligent' people are conditioned by advertising; what feels like free choice often isn't.

When this story may help

  • consumerism
  • wanting to be attractive
  • youth

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Destiny, fate or free will? | Ajahn Brahm | 22-02-2015 · 2015-02-22 · ▶ watch from 21:24 to 23:29 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'some Bruno' / 'tuno tobacco' = St Bruno tobacco; 'knit it' = lit it; 'the only thing which fed me' = followed me; 'jump over the couch' = counter.

The narrative is Ajahn Brahm's own telling, quoted from the talk captions. The summary and reflection are Being Mindful Stories's editorial notes. Please credit the teacher and link the original talk. Markdown version

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