# Can I ask a meditation question — in the toilet?

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-toilet-meditation-question
- Themes: humour, boundaries, service, exhaustion
- Life situations: overwork, no personal boundaries

## Synopsis (editorial 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?

## 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

## Teaching point

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

## 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.

## Source

- [Meaning of Life | Ajahn Brahm | 21 February 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nHnVOw9lWg) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 44:22 to 45:06: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nHnVOw9lWg&t=2662s