# Books, books, books — dustbin, dustbin, dustbin

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-zen-monk-uk-books-dustbin
- Themes: practice, books, Zen
- Life situations: study overload

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

~1972 London: Zen monk with almost no English answers 'What of Buddhism in UK?' — books books books, too many, dustbin dustbin dustbin. Also: each book written = seven births as a donkey.

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

this Zen monk came, and in his talk, he gave a warning. His warning was Well, first of all, you know, he couldn't speak English very well. But nevertheless, we asked him a question. And the question was, "What do you think of Buddhism in UK?" And I think this was asked about 1972. And he said, he couldn't speak English fluently, but he could say a few words. What he said was, "Buddhism in UK, books, books, books. Too many, too many, too many. Dustbin, dustbin, dustbin." And that was so articulate. You couldn't have said it more eloquently than that. Just Just knowing three words. But he also said that uh through the translator, that anyone who writes a book, for each book, you have to spend the next seven births after you die, as a donkey

## Teaching point

Too many books, not enough practice — a three-word sermon can outdo eloquence.

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

Asked about Buddhism in Britain, a Zen monk with almost no English said: books, books, books, too many, dustbin, dustbin, dustbin. He added that each book written costs seven lives as a donkey. Ajahn Brahm, an author many times over, expects good company. Books are maps. Go and explore the territory yourself.

## Source

- [Patience and Renunciation | Ajahn Brahm | 19 January 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TNyHK0hbnA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 18:18 to 19:33: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TNyHK0hbnA&t=1098s

Other tellings of this story:

- [How do you judge the year? | Ajahn Brahm | 30 Dec 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw_Hk4umSNs) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 4:00 to 5:37: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw_Hk4umSNs&t=240s