Being Mindful Stories

Joke · Ajahn Brahm

Thank the burglar for the whiskey

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Speaking From The Heart Without Fear | Ajahn Brahm | 16-05-2014

1 min read

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

burglar came into their house? I said, "What did they steal?" Oh, they stole all these expensive bottles of whiskey. I said, "Oh, thank the burglar." They stopped you breaking your precepts. Thank you, thank you. What a wonderful burglar that is. Can you please get the burglar's name? I can give them the addresses of many other people sitting here today. [laughter] ...so we can relieve them of their alcohol as well

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 27:14 (to 27:51)

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

When someone's expensive whiskey was stolen, Ajahn Brahm said: thank the burglar for keeping your precepts, and get his name, I have more addresses. Then he turned to South Korea's ferry tragedy. Even disasters bring communities together, and you grow from that hard wisdom. Whatever happens, look for what can grow.

In brief (our summary)

Someone's house is burgled of expensive whiskey; Brahm says thank the burglar — he stopped you breaking precepts — and asks for the burglar's name to give other addresses.

Teaching point

Even a burglar can be a precept-helper if you look twice.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Speaking From The Heart Without Fear | Ajahn Brahm | 16-05-2014 · 2014-06-27 · ▶ watch from 27:14 to 27:51 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

1 other telling of this story

Caption notes: Manual (volunteer) captions; occasional misspellings kept as is.

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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