Stories about fame
14 Buddhist wisdom stories about fame from Buddhist teachers, each linked to the original talk.
- A meditation question at the urinalStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: After a long talk and Q&A at the Jockey Club auditorium in Hong Kong, Ajahn Brahm desperately needs the toilet but queues of questioners keep him back, and more grab him as he…
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one probably the worst thing which ever happened to me was when I was in Hong Kong giving some talks like you know you talk for over an hour then questions and answers and then after people run out of questions and I think any more questions no and I think I can go and there's a whole line of people in front of me asking their questions and I'm a I'm a monk yes but I'm also a human being I too need to go to toilet and they wouldn't let me go really lot suffering. And so eventually the line finished and I got up to go and then people grabbed me as I was walking out to ask me questions about meditation. That's my job. Okay. I'm supposed to, you know, be a meditation teacher and about their life and stuff. And I finally finally made it to the toilet. It was in the jockey club auditorium in Hong Kong. I finally made it into the L. And as soon as I got into the L, I thought, "Ah yes, now I can go. Ah, I really need this. You know, it's the closest thing to enlightenment. The joy of when you know, you've been really want to go for a long time and now you can actually just evacuate your bladder. Well, you know what happened? This guy just finished washing his hand. Oh, I jump. Can I talk to you about my meditation? It was inside the toilet in the men's room.
- Bob Dylan on being famousStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: A fellow monk, Garry, who grew up in Los Angeles among the famous, once sneaked into Bob Dylan's hotel and spent an evening with him. When Garry said it must be great being…
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Even when I was a young monk, there was a fellow monk his name was Garry, and I remember as a young man he grew up in Los Angeles, he met that filmstat who was that who played 'dirty harry' what was his name? Clint Eastwood, he met Clint Eastwood in his early days because they went to the same university together he told all these stories about being with the rich and the famous but he remembered once when that Singer Bob Dylan was in Los Angles he found out from his friends which hotel he was in and managed to use on of his contacts to sneak in the back and spend a whole evening and night with Bob Dylan. This is a famous man, at that time he was multi famous and Bob Dylan was saying ... no he was saying to Bob Dylan Ah it must be great being famous; Bob Dylan swore no its xxxx whatever it is, I can't repeat it here its terrible being famous. It's such a pain to be well known.
- 'Do you know a famous monk called Ajahn Brahm?'Story · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Trying to avoid pride, Ajahn Brahm sits incognito at the back of a Buddhist conference in Vietnam. A Vietnamese monk sits beside him to practise his English: who are you, where…
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So I remember just this is what happens when you get go incognito. I remember being in Vietnam at a conference and I just sitting in the back and when I was sitting in the back in Vietnam at a Buddhist conference this Vietnamese monk came and sat next to me. I knew from experience what he wanted was just to practice his English cuz if those Vietnamese monk Asian monks if they know good English they have many opportunities open to them. So this monk came and sat next to me and he said now who are you? Where are you from? I said I am from Australia. Oh, welcome to Vietnam. And he said what part of Australia? I say I'm from Perth. Oh, I'm not making this up. Okay. And the next thing he said, do you know a famous monk called Ajan Brah? He said that honestly. Oh my goodness. And then I said, "Yes, I know him." And then I I shouldn't have done this. I said, "I am Ajam Brown." Ah, he was kind of shocked. Oh my goodness. What have I got myself into? But instead of getting proud or arrogant or getting afraid and this I said this to the monks whenever you give talks when prasada and any of the nuns you're not giving the talk I went up on that stage and I said the only reason why I'm opening my my mouth and saying these things because of all of the teachings which I had from my teacher, my master Ajancha and all the other great monks which I knew and all the things which I had read and learned from other highly attained monks and nuns and I thought I'm not giving the talk this evening my teachers are. So um you made a mistake there when you said Ajan Charles Ajan Brah's G I almost said it there didn't I when Ajan Brah's giving the talk this evening I never give a talk at the BWA it's all my teachers and all the people who have helped me what that does it takes away any sense of ego any sense of fear any sense of uh personally owning the contents of your talk. Sometimes I do say mistakes and if I say mistakes it's not my fault. It's my teacher. Blame him.
- No escape, even in the toiletStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Returning exhausted from Los Angeles via Singapore, Ajahn Brahm is met at the gate by supporters with an airport buggy who take him for tea and ask about meditation, Buddhism and…
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the worst thing worst occasion one worst stories about this was when I was just returning from Los Angeles this it's a long journey on that aircraft and unfortunately when I fly Singapore Airlines there's people in the airport who know me and they meet me at the gate you know this is in the internal area because they got these little cars they can go anywhere in the airport so it's very nice they go and take me for a cup of tea or cup of coffee and they start asking questions about their meditation or about Buddhism about their family life and gee that you know if you're a counselor you've got an office and you can actually secretary have appointments and certain times for me that it's anytime and I got really I must admit that that time I got a bit tired and think just can't you leave me alone and of course you can't really say that as a monk instead I said I need to go to the toilet and I did you know I could hold on for a bit longer but going to the toiler was the way of escaping and sitting down in a place I could have a bit of peace and quiet but of course what happened as soon as I went into the L the toilet attendant recognized me oh a br can I ask you some questions about Buddhism even in the toilet I can't escape
- Number three after the Quran and the BibleStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: In Indonesia a bookseller tells Ajahn Brahm his books are always number three in the big Gramedia chain — beaten only by the Quran and the Bible. He is delighted; he is not going…
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your books are number three sort of in the in the grand media books uh store as a chain of bookshops and so they're the biggest booksellers over in Indonesia and they said it's always number three and I said what beat my books and he said what beat what was number one was the Quran what was number two is the Bible and you're next I said that's pretty cool it's like I'm not going to try and beat those two books in Indonesia but it was actually pretty impressive
- Photo op in the galleyStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: On a Garuda flight from Perth to Bali, a flight attendant puts her hand on her heart: 'I am your greatest fan!' After the meal service she invites him to the galley, where all…
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So for me when this, I was on this Garuda flight just the airhostess, the flight attendant came up to me. Actually she didn't come up to me, she was on the aisle, I was in the window seat I always think the window seats are the best because at least you only got one person on one side the others are windows. So at least the window can't ask you questions.... (laughter) It happened I was on another flight once, really tired from Kuala Lumpur back to Perth sitting on the window seat, a woman come pass and she said "Are you Ajahn Brahm? I really need to talk to you." and I said "there is another fellow who is in the aisle seat" Never mind. You know what this woman did? She bent down and asked this guy in the aisle seat "Would you mind exchanging seats?" And I was praying "please say no, no, no!" (laughter from the audience) That bastard; he said ''Yes'' So this woman all the way from Kuala Lumpur to Perth asked me about her marriage, her relationships.... And I had to come back and give a talk that night as well.. Really unfair... but anyway it wasn't so bad on the Garuda Flight because the flight attendant just turned around and looked at me and said "Are you Ajahn Brahm?" Yes.... And she put her hand over her heart You know the flight attendants are very beautiful she said "I am your greatest fan!" (laughter from the audience) If I wasn't a monk a many years later you may be quite excited at things like that. Way past that stuff... So I said... yes I am She said "you are such a wonderful monk" I got really good service but interestingly ... Indonesians She came up... once they have given the meal service she came up to me and said ''would you please come to the galley?'' That's the back of the plane where all the flight attendants hang out. And they were all lined up. Photo op. (laughter from the audience) They don't even know me, even during a flight they wanted to take photos with me Every Flight Attendant, smile, click, OK Another one click... ok next one Satu Dua Tiga Those who know... that's one two three. I don't know anything pass three in Bahasa Indonesia. Because you only need one two three to take the photo. That's why I know Satu Dua Tiga That's one two three in Bahasa I don't know what four is They never say that ... one two three smile! They all lined up and If you have ever been on the back of an aircraft, the galley. When anybody presses the ... calling the flight attendants the light goes on there. All these lights were going on ding ding ding This was an Australian flight... from Perth to Bali Most of the people on there were Aussies going surfing or holiday And they all were pushing the button for a beer. And they couldn't get any beer because all the flight attendants were having photographs with me! (laughter from the audience) So they were not happy with me I think they lost a lot of faith in Buddhism because when I was there they couldn't get a beer.
- Sixty pilgrims' photographs and a near-missed flightStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Changing flights at Singapore airport, Ajahn Brahm is recognised by 60 or 70 Indonesians returning from pilgrimage in India. Group photos, individual photos, family photos — it…
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This was at the airport in Singapore. I was going from one terminal to one a flight to another flight connecting flight and all these Indonesians they just come back from going on pilgrimage uh in India and they recognize me Ajan Brah said yeah oh it's not so lucky to meet you can we take photograph of you of course I don't mind but there was about 60 or 70 of them and they had to have the group photograph individual photographs photographs with their close close family. It was taking forever and that's the only time the only time when I had a collecting a connecting flight and when I got to the gate they were calling out my name. Mr. Brahma Wango, your flight is about to leave. Come quickly. I almost missed my flight because of that. So I tried to stop the problem and the reason I tried to stop the problem I actually the way I started to uh stop the problem I was telling people that when I went to that big monument in central Java Bora Pador there were signs there saying please don't take photographs of the great monument B pador and I said ask Why? Actually, the flashes of the cameras was degrading the stone, was destroying the monument. It's proved scientifically. And I said, "Well, look at me. I'm degrading fast." So, they thought that was very funny. So, they took more photographs.
- The Australian anjaliStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: At an international bhikkhuni conference, fed up with endless photos with palms joined, Ajahn Brahm suggests the senior nuns — Tenzin Palmo among them — do 'the Australian form',…
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so with the nuns I said look I'm an Australian Monk sort of instead of doing this Anjali it's called do the Australian form eventually kangaroo so all these photographs with all his senior nuns like tanzan Palmer why not don't get fed up with doing this so have a bit of fun funny guys it's much better than you know rabbit ears
- The fan at the restaurant windowStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Having a quiet sponsored lunch in a little restaurant in Kennedy Town, Hong Kong, Ajahn Brahm sees a young woman press her face to the window, recognising him. Her English…
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But even when I was in Hong Kong, I was quietly having my lunch. Somebody was sponsoring my lunch in a little restaurant. uh in I think in I think they call it Kennedy Town. It's over in Hong Kong Island. And when I was having my lunch there, this lady walked past a young lady. And she looked pressed her head against the window to look because she recognized me. And she had an English her husband who encouraged her, "Go in and make sure if it really is him." And it was like being a pop star. She came in there and said, "Yo, Ambra, oh, I'm so excited." That's what she actually said. And her partner said, "Oh, she listens to you all the time." And she said, "Thank you so much." And I was just trying to have an a quiet lunch. I know you can't have a quiet lunch here in Australia. [laughter] Too many people try and come come and talk to you. But I never expected this, you know, in Hong Kong.
- The supermodel was annoyed they photographed the monkStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: On a Kuala Lumpur retreat a famous Malaysian supermodel grew fed up that at the end nobody wanted her photo — they only wanted photographs of Ajahn Brahm.
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there have been supermodels... It's true. I was teaching this retreat over in Kuala Lumpur, and they told me this very famous Malaysian supermodel was on my retreat. And, you know, she looked really nice apparently, but she got very fed up at the end of the retreat, and she complained at the end of the retreat because at the end of the retreat, no one wanted to take a photograph of her; they only wanted to take photographs of me. (LAUGHTER) I don't know why she got upset of that. That's true story; they told me she was really pissed off. And I can't understand why people want to take photographs of me Anyway, but never mind there we go. Anyway back to the tree
- The TV star he didn't recogniseStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Teaching a small meditation class in Double Bay, Sydney, Ajahn Brahm notices a woman at the back smiling at him and wonders who on earth she is. Afterwards he learns she was a…
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Now one story. I should actually find out who this lady was, but she was some TV star. I think she was in Water Rats, or something. I don't know her name. Somebody told me, she is really really famous. If I told you her name now I think you would all know her. But I went to teach, it was just an afternoon meditation session in Sydney. This fellow had a little group in Darling Point, like a really top, affluent place of Sydney. So he's in this little group. There are about sort-of 20-30 people. I was talking about meditation. And this lady kept on looking at me and smiling. I didn't know, she was acting very strange. Not like an ordinary girl. [Laughter]. And, in the end, I just took it in my stride and taught the meditation etc., and afterwards I mentioned to the person organizing this and said, "That lady was acting really strange." And he told me that that was a famous TV actress. I figured out she was looking at me strangely because I didn't recognize her. What she was actually saying is, "See, it's me; I am the famous TV star." [laughter] Ajahn Brahm: And I didn't know. [laughter]
- Tickets sold faster than Lady Gaga'sStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: In Medan, Indonesia, about 3–4,000 cheap tickets for Ajahn Brahm's talk sold out in ~30 minutes the same weekend Lady Gaga's Jakarta concert sold out in 40 — so they teased that…
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Lady Gaga was uh selling tickets for a concert of hers over in Jakarta and her ticket sold out in 40 minutes. Mine is 30 minutes. So that's when they said ajam bra you are more famous than lady gaga
- Two hours signing books in JakartaStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: After a talk of four or five thousand in Jakarta, a huge line wants books signed and photos — two hours of signing and smiling for the camera.
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Indonesia I think it was in Jakarta where my books you know all of them have been really big best sellers in Indonesia some well known over there and so after the talk there's about four or five thousand people at the talk then they wanted their books signed and there was a huge long line of people two hours it took of signing books and smarting for the camera signing books sliding for the camera exciting a book smarting for the camera and that's okay for the first hour but after an hour of doing this I thought what the heck am I doing I'm a monk I should be in some cave somewhere meditating what do I what am I doing signing books and having my mug shot taken
- You're the girl whose name I keep forgettingJoke · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: When strangers ask 'Do you remember me?' after talks to hundreds or thousands, a joke-book escape: 'Oh yes — you're the girl whose name I keep forgetting.'
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somebody comes up, do you remember me? And I say, "Oh, yeah. Yeah, you're the the girl whose name I keep forgetting." That gets you out of a bind anyway. You're the person whose name I keep forgetting. Who are you? Keep forgetting your name