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Story · Ajahn Brahm

Can I ask a meditation question — in the toilet?

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Meaning of Life | Ajahn Brahm | 21 February 2020

1 min read

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

by the time I got to the toilet you know as knows this was the jockey club auditorium in the one of the universities over again it was one of these big toilets you know the mail toilets and as soon as I got in it is the sense yes I can actually go to the toilet now and as soon as I walked in the door this guy was just washing his hands and he turned to me so Oh a giant problem can I ask you a question on meditation within the toilet there's a good good anecdote for people anyway just I survived somehow other

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 44:22 (to 45:06)

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

After a long talk and an hour of signing books, Ajahn Brahm finally made it to the toilet, where a man at the sink asked a meditation question. He survived. Service needs balance: look after yourself as well as others. A Boy Scout helped an old lady across the road she didn't want to cross. Kindness needs wisdom too.

In brief (our summary)

After a long Jockey Club auditorium talk and an hour of book-signing he finally reaches the gents; a man washing his hands turns: Ajahn Brahm, can I ask you a question on meditation — in the toilet?

Teaching point

Service has limits; look after yourself or you cannot look after others.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Meaning of Life | Ajahn Brahm | 21 February 2020 · 2020-02-21 · ▶ watch from 44:22 to 45:06 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'a giant problem' = Ajahn Brahm.

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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