# I don't hit sleepy meditators — I send them to bed

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-zen-monastery-hitting-sleepy-monks
- Themes: meditation, kindness, discipline, Zen, retreats
- Life situations: harsh practice, sleepiness on retreat

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

An audience mention of a Japanese Soto (captioned Hai/Dogen) monastery that hits sleepy monks prompts him to disagree: prisoners who saw such a documentary said they'd kill anyone who tried it. His retreat rule — if sleepy, go to bed; kindness beats the stick.

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

there's a Zen Monastery It's A Hai Monastery over in Japan it used to founded by this monk doen about 700 almost 800 years ago now 750 years ago and uh that was supposed to um get them um awake stop their sloth and toper I totally disagree with that I remember just when I was teaching uh some of the prisoners I showed them that documentary oh they were really upset said if if you tried that on me A J rob you'd be you'd be minc me you'd be dead don't wor you don't really need to do that I think that too harsh you know sometimes of Buddism they are too harsh like kindness is much better so if you know and many of you who've been meditating Retreats with me if somebody is that sleepy I don't hit them on the back what I do is say if you want to sleep go to bed

## Teaching point

Discipline without kindness is just fear; sleepiness needs rest, not violence.

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

Asked about monasteries that strike sleepy meditators, Ajahn Brahm disagrees; on his retreats, if you're sleepy, go to bed. Being hard on yourself isn't discipline; it's fear. True discipline grows from kindness, forgiveness and peace. Live that way, and others will want to follow.

## Source

- [In Between | Ajahn Brahm | 27-05-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uln6baN98g) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 57:06 to 58:05: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uln6baN98g&t=3426s

Other tellings of this story:

- [8. Beautiful Breath - Ajahn Brahm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDfGP_VISFs) (BSWA Retreats 2011-15 & Media) — watch from 3:48 to 4:59: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDfGP_VISFs&t=228s