# The Vietnam monk who blessed both armies

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-vietnam-monk-blessed-both-sides
- Themes: war, peace, monastic life, Vietnam
- Life situations: conflict, neutrality

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

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

## 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

## Teaching point

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

## 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.

## Source

- [Ceasefire With Your Mind | Ajahn Brahm | 2 June 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85hFUF33Ess) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 15:39 to 16:25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85hFUF33Ess&t=939s