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Story · Ajahn Brahm

The Vietnam monk who blessed both armies

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Ceasefire With Your Mind | Ajahn Brahm | 2 June 2020

1 min read

Content note: war

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

Vietnam during the Vietnam War and the government soldiers would come to his temple to meditate to listen to Dharma get blessings so at the Communists soldiers say to would come to his temple and receive blessings there's such a good monk he was respected by all his goodness was not political and they made both sides a little bit more tolerant and peaceful towards one another

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 15:39 (to 16:25)

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

During the Vietnam War, one monk gave meditation and blessings to government and communist soldiers alike. His goodness wasn't political, so both sides respected him, and softened a little. Centuries earlier, Henry VIII spared a nunnery for its good work. Real goodness protects itself. Be kind to every side.

In brief (our summary)

During the Vietnam War a monk receives government and communist soldiers alike for meditation and blessings; non-political goodness softens both sides.

Teaching point

Blessing both sides is sometimes the only politics that cools a war.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Ceasefire With Your Mind | Ajahn Brahm | 2 June 2020 · 2020-06-02 · ▶ watch from 15:39 to 16:25 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned.

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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