Being Mindful Stories

Joke · Ajahn Brahm

“It's only fat” — “Same thing”

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Our Mind and Our Health | Ajahn Brahm | 7 July 2023

1 min read

Content note: terrorism reference (joke)

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

When I was uh traveling through United States a few years ago, they looked at me, I only have my my bag. That's my baggage. Said, "Where's the rest of your baggage, sir?" said, "This is all I have." He said, "Well, what's underneath your robe?" And what this customs agent said, we said, "Is there a suicide belt under Europe?" Because in those days people would use suicide bolts. And so I opened up my R said, "No, it's suicide belt. It's only fat." And that's when the customs officer said, "Same thing.

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 36:58 (to 37:42)

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

A US customs officer asked whether the monk had a suicide belt under his robe. Ajahn Brahm opened it: no, only fat. Same thing, said the officer. Ajahn Brahm still laughs about it. If you can joke about your own belly in a tense moment, few insults about your looks will sting much.

In brief (our summary)

Travelling through the US with only his one small bag, a customs officer asks where the rest of his baggage is, then what's under his robe — a suicide belt? He opens his robe: 'No, it's only fat.' The officer: 'Same thing.'

Teaching point

(Self-deprecating humour about his weight.)

When this story may help

  • airport security
  • body image

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Our Mind and Our Health | Ajahn Brahm | 7 July 2023 · 2023-07-08 · ▶ watch from 36:58 to 37:42 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

2 other tellings of this story

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'Europe' = your robe; 'bolts' = belts (not changed).

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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