Being Mindful Stories

Story · Ajahn Brahm

Put a sticker on it — seven days

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Buddhism and Dogs | Ajahn Brahm | 23 February 2018

1 min read

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

there was a car illegally parked across his driveway and I can't even get my own car into the workshop let alone get any people any business cars coming in or or you know the fixed cars coming out so you rang up the local council a ranger came and it stuck a sticker on the car no report it says that are you gonna do said yeah that's the law you have to keep the sticker one after seven days so we can take it away after seven days I've got my business you mean I can't do any business works of law so sorry can nothing we can do about it so this was a very smart person always think outside the box don't get angry just be wise so what this guy did he got his car I couldn't get into his workshop anyway he went to the local shire council offices and part his car the driveway of the car park at which point they said come you can use your you can't park your car there it's illegal you know the the counselors can't come in now even though Mary can't come out and this guy said put a sticker on it really [laughter] it's seven days and [laughter] of course both cars would move pretty quickly after that so I thought that was actually pretty neat

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 17:41 (to 19:09)

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

A man whose driveway kept getting blocked parked across the council car park and told officials to put a sticker on it too. Both cars soon moved. Ajahn Brahm admires the cleverness, without recommending it. And Ajahn Chah's advice for insults: if called a dog, check for a tail. No tail? Not your problem. Don't take abuse in.

In brief (our summary)

A friend's workshop driveway is blocked by an illegally parked car; the ranger can only ticket and wait seven days. The owner parks across the shire council car-park entrance and invites them to put a sticker on his car too — both cars move quickly.

Teaching point

Don't get angry — think outside the box and turn the tables with wisdom.

When this story may help

  • blocked at work
  • dealing with bureaucracy

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Buddhism and Dogs | Ajahn Brahm | 23 February 2018 · 2018-02-23 · ▶ watch from 17:41 to 19:09 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'part his car' = parked his car.

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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