# “It's a bit OTT, isn't it?”

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-taj-mahal-bit-ott
- Themes: perception, beauty, conditioning
- Life situations: travel, questioning received opinion

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Dragged along to the Taj Mahal on an India pilgrimage, Ajahn Brahm sits at a distance wondering why it's beautiful — only because we're told so? A fellow pilgrim, the late member Pauline, comes up and says, “It's a bit OTT, isn't it?” He congratulates her for challenging her perceptions.

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

we went on pilgrimage to india and part of the pilgrimage was actually going to the taj mahal i don't know why we went there but said people wanted to see it so i was dragged along i remember sitting at a distance from the taj mahal in agua in india and just asking myself why is this beautiful it's only beautiful because you're told it's beautiful when i actually look at it from a distance so what's beautiful about this it's a bit of an exaggeration and it almost ruined many many people suffered because of building that but people said it was a work of art what's a work of art is it really beautiful so i was questioning myself there i remember pauline coming up to me and said it's a bit ott isn't it and i said yeah well done c2 was challenging her perceptions were taught to say this is beautiful and when you actually look at it challenge your perceptions it wasn't that beautiful

## Teaching point

Challenge received perceptions of beauty and value.

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

At the Taj Mahal, Ajahn Brahm wondered whether it was beautiful only because we're told so, and a fellow pilgrim muttered, 'It's a bit OTT, isn't it?' He cheered her. Fashions and perceptions change. Question them, and foods, illnesses and people we wrote off often turn out to be fine.

## Source

- [Positive Perspective and Acceptance | Ajahn Brahm | 3 June 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J5YVDTB1bE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 45:08 to 46:09: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J5YVDTB1bE&t=2708s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Expanding Your Views | Ajahn Brahm | 18 April 2008](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJAM2kn9zTI) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 57:28 to 58:07: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJAM2kn9zTI&t=3448s