# 'Do you know a famous monk called Ajahn Brahm?'

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-vietnam-conference-do-you-know-ajahn-brahm
- Themes: humility, fame, fear, humour, teachers
- Life situations: public speaking, success and pride, fear of failure

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Trying to avoid pride, Ajahn Brahm sits incognito at the back of a Buddhist conference in Vietnam. A Vietnamese monk sits beside him to practise his English: who are you, where from? Australia — Perth. 'Do you know a famous monk called Ajahn Brahm?' 'Yes, I know him... I am Ajahn Brahm.' The monk is shocked. Ajahn Brahm then tells how, on stage, he attributes his talks to his teachers — Ajahn Chah and the other great monks and nuns — which removes ego and fear ('if I say mistakes it's not my fault... Blame him').

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

So I remember just this is what happens when you get go incognito. I remember being in Vietnam at a conference and I just sitting in the back and when I was sitting in the back in Vietnam at a Buddhist conference this Vietnamese monk came and sat next to me. I knew from experience what he wanted was just to practice his English cuz if those Vietnamese monk Asian monks if they know good English they have many opportunities open to them. So this monk came and sat next to me and he said now who are you? Where are you from? I said I am from Australia. Oh, welcome to Vietnam. And he said what part of Australia? I say I'm from Perth. Oh, I'm not making this up. Okay. And the next thing he said, do you know a famous monk called Ajan Brah? He said that honestly. Oh my goodness. And then I said, "Yes, I know him." And then I I shouldn't have done this. I said, "I am Ajam Brown." Ah, he was kind of shocked. Oh my goodness. What have I got myself into? But instead of getting proud or arrogant or getting afraid and this I said this to the monks whenever you give talks when prasada and any of the nuns you're not giving the talk I went up on that stage and I said the only reason why I'm opening my my mouth and saying these things because of all of the teachings which I had from my teacher, my master Ajancha and all the other great monks which I knew and all the things which I had read and learned from other highly attained monks and nuns and I thought I'm not giving the talk this evening my teachers are. So um you made a mistake there when you said Ajan Charles Ajan Brah's G I almost said it there didn't I when Ajan Brah's giving the talk this evening I never give a talk at the BWA it's all my teachers and all the people who have helped me what that does it takes away any sense of ego any sense of fear any sense of uh personally owning the contents of your talk. Sometimes I do say mistakes and if I say mistakes it's not my fault. It's my teacher. Blame him.

## Teaching point

Don't own your successes or failures; credit your teachers, and you can relax without pride or fear.

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

Sitting incognito at a Vietnamese conference, Ajahn Brahm was asked by the monk beside him whether he knew the famous Ajahn Brahm. He did. He credits his talks to his teachers, so mistakes are their fault, he jokes. Not owning success or failure removes pride and fear. Then you can relax and give your best.

## Source

- [Growing from Difficult Times | Ajahn Brahm | 21 April 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXZHG7El0lU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 20:20 to 23:26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXZHG7El0lU&t=1220s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Ownership and Anger| Ajahn Brahm | 14 February 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adpMTYPFELs) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 8:57 to 10:14: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adpMTYPFELs&t=537s
- [Why Do People Come Here? | Ajahn Brahm | 18 December 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwPyLq9Pxug) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 6:40 to 7:46: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwPyLq9Pxug&t=400s