# Lying down for the benefit of all beings

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-sutta-buddha-nap-for-all-beings
- Themes: rest, self-compassion, Buddha, Mara
- Life situations: burnout, overwork, guilt about resting

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

The Buddha takes an afternoon nap, and Māra taunts him: you're no real monk — lazy, sleeping while others work to feed you. The Buddha replies: “I'm lying down for the happiness and benefit of all sentient beings.” Ajahn Brahm now gives the same answer when he naps.

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

where one day the Buddha took a nap in the afternoon and then this being called Mara called him out I've caught you out you're not a real monk you're lazy look all these other people have to work hard feeding you they're not sleeping during the middle of the day you lazy monk he said what are you doing that for why are you sleeping and the Buddha replied I'm laying down for the happiness and benefit of all sentient beings

## Teaching point

Rest is for others' benefit too — tired people are grumpy and angry; you count in compassion.

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

Taunted for napping in the afternoon, the Buddha said he was lying down for the benefit of all beings, and Ajahn Brahm borrows the line whenever he naps. He half means it as a joke. Tired people are grumpy and quick to anger. Resting isn't laziness; the people who live with you will thank you for it.

## Source

- [Motivation | Ajahn Brahm | 08-07-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90afts4S6aw) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 34:56 to 35:30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90afts4S6aw&t=2096s