# The fruit trees in the abandoned monastery

- Teacher: Ajahn Chah
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/chah-fruit-trees-in-abandoned-monastery
- Themes: honesty, precepts, speech, wisdom
- Life situations: a request for permission, awkward situations, temptation, wandering alone

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Camping in an abandoned monastery, Ajahn Chah will not eat its fruit without permission, and when villagers ask him for permission, he neither forbids nor allows, and they take none.

## The story, retold in our own words (a paraphrase, not Ajahn Chah's words)

_Retold in our own words from Ajahn Chah's talk “Suffering on the Road”, in The Teachings of Ajahn Chah (2007 web edition), pp. 499–500._

Ajahn Chah was wandering alone and, coming across an old abandoned monastery, set up his umbrella and mosquito net to camp and practice for a few days. Many fruit trees in the grounds were laden with ripe fruit. He really wanted to eat some but did not dare, afraid the trees were monastery property and he had not received permission. Later a villager came with a basket and, seeing him staying there, asked permission to pick the fruit — perhaps thinking he owned the trees. He reflected that he had no real authority to give permission, but that if he forbade them they would call him possessive and stingy; either way there would be harm. So he replied that although he was staying there he was not the owner of the trees; he understood they wanted fruit; he would not forbid them, and he would not give permission either — it was up to them. That was all it needed: they did not take any.

## Teaching point

Don't claim what is not yours; a careful middle answer can prevent harm on both sides.

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

Sometimes every simple answer seems to cause harm. Ajahn Chah found a third way: honest about what was not his to give, and respectful of the villagers' choice. Careful, truthful words, offered without claiming authority we do not have, can settle a delicate situation better than a quick yes or no.

_Reflection written by Being Mindful Stories with AI help, in the spirit of the talk. These are not Ajahn Chah's own words._

## Source

- Talk "Suffering on the Road", in The Teachings of Ajahn Chah (2007 web edition), pp. 499–500 — https://www.ajahnchah.org/book/Suffering_on_Road1.php

_The book is © The Sangha, Wat Nong Pah Pong, offered for free distribution; read the talk free at its source link. No book text is reproduced here._