# Only keeping four precepts today

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-thai-man-four-fingers-four-precepts
- Themes: precepts, ritual, honesty, humour
- Life situations: religious practice, keeping commitments

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Back in Thailand after some years in Australia, Ajahn Brahm watches people take the five precepts with their hands raised. One man holds up four fingers. Asked why, he says he is only keeping four precepts today — though he still chants all five. After that Ajahn Brahm starts looking, and sure enough sees someone with two fingers up. They didn't say which precepts they were breaking.

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

And the the other precepts story, this was when I I've been over in Australia for a while. I went to Thailand. And all these Thai people, they're taking the five precepts, you know, they put your hands up like this. And I saw this guy, and it That's what they usually do, put their hands up like this. I saw him do this. I've never seen that before. And so I asked him after, "What does What does that mean?" You know, you're putting your hand up like this. He said, "Oh, I'm I'm only keeping four precepts today." You know, 1 2 3 4. They still chant all of them. And then that made me start to look. And yeah, sure enough, I saw somebody with two fingers They didn't tell me which precepts they were breaking.

## Teaching point

Ceremony without intention is empty; simply know the precepts and keep them.

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

Taking the precepts in Thailand, one man raised four fingers: he was only keeping four today, though he chanted all five. Then Ajahn Brahm spotted someone with two fingers up. Ceremonies can drown the meaning. Know what you value, and simply keep it, quietly and kindly.

## Source

- [1. Relaxing the Body & Mind - Ajahn Brahm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUMEd3bWVIM) (BSWA Retreats 2011-15 & Media) — watch from 1:01:08 to 1:01:55: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUMEd3bWVIM&t=3668s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Dhamma Talk | Ajahn Brahm | 28 April 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFy2ztNpf64) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 30:59 to 31:53: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFy2ztNpf64&t=1859s