Stories about wisdom
32 Buddhist wisdom stories about wisdom from Buddhist teachers, each linked to the original talk.
- “A question for Mr. Monk”Story · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Arriving late at a Perth radio studio after a Friday talk, Ajahn Brahm only learns once on air that he is co-hosting a two-hour adult-themes show beside Australia's best-known…
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that sort of show I went on, on radio, on 6PR I think it was, and it was a show on adult themes, 10 to 12 p.m. people actually ringing up with sexual dysfunctions, problems in marriage. Imagine asking a celibate monk about that. But I was confident. I didn't know what I was talking about, but I was confident.
- 'Ajahn Brahm said what's done is finished'Story · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: One of the first times he told the 'what's done is finished' story, parents complained the next Sunday that they wouldn't bring their son any more. Their 16-year-old had agreed…
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not like one of the first times I told that story and just after telling that story on a Sunday a couple of parents came to complain to me so we're not going to bring our son to listen to you anymore so what did I do wrong so that story what's wrong with it I'll tell you what's wrong with it on Saturday night our 16 year old son said he was going off to a party and we told him do you remember your agreement son you say you finish your homework and only then go to the party have you finished your homework that's what they said Dad Mom just says that John Brown said what's done is finished here tomorrow got big trouble for that
- Dig a hole, boil the waterStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Early one morning a village headman tells Ajahn Chah a woman has been possessed all night; villagers bring her in, screaming profanities and foaming at the mouth, held down by…
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One example, which I will never forget, this is about my master was a person who came to his temple possessed. At least that's what the villagers said, Just early in the morning, the Headman and his assistant came into the monastery, and told Ajahn Chah that there was a woman in their village, who've been possessed by some spirit, by some demon the night before. And they were totally crazy. They'd been trying to deal with her all night and they could not. So they were bringing her to see this Great Monk Ajahn Chah. Now, of course, in Thailand, they don't have a PET (Psychiatric Emergency Teams) team, they don't have psychiatrists. It's actually the monks who are the psychiatrists in those days. We're the ones, who have the psychological wherewithal to deal with such problems. And so they were bringing this lady into this monastery. And as they were bringing her in, you could actually hear her screams, even though it was a long way away. When people are crazy, I mean, they scream in such a loud voice. And they screamed profanities, even in like a temple and you know how devout Thai people are among their monks in their monasteries. But this lady was out of her head. And of course, what did Ajahn Chah , a great master do? He just ordered these two novices, "Dig a hole, I want a big hole dug." And another couple of novices, "Boil some water, I want some boiling water, lots of boiling water." And I began to wonder who was the mad person, This lady being dragged to the monastery or Ajahn Chah because I couldn't understand what the heck he was doing. You don't sort of treat a person, who's mad by digging a hole and boiling some water. What's he going to do? Give her a cup of tea? (laughter) And as she was coming closer, Ajahn Chah was very sort of fierce with the novices. "Come on, I need the hole dug quickly! And I need more water, lots of water. Boil heaps of water!" And again, we didn't know what he was up to. I couldn't figure this guy out. And when they brought this woman to him, it was this classic case. She was literally foaming at her mouth. And she was so crazy, and so powerful with her madness, You know, these were, you know, tough northeast Thai farmers and had about three or four of them holding her down. And they were just, that's all they could do to keep her from sort of lunging at Ajahn Chah. And then he led on what he was up to. He told the villagers, "This is a very, very dangerous demon who's got into this woman. The only thing we can do to help her is put her in this hole, pour boiling water over her, heaps and then bury her alive. It's too dangerous a demon." And that's what he said. He was going to pour all this boiling water over this lady and bury her alive. Now, you think that people just don't do this. But Ajahn Chah was so eccentric, so unique. I thought actually he might do this. And certainly, this girl thought he might do this. And she started calming down, before the water was boiled and the hole was dug, she was sitting in front of him as calm as anything, receiving the Buddhist precepts, exhausted. And after giving the precepts, they calmly took her home.
- Dog poo under the mango treeAnalogy · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Simile: walking home from the temple you tread in dog poo. Don't scrape it off; take it home and scrape it off under your mango tree. A year later the mangoes are sweeter — and…
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it is the simile of coming to the temple and when you walk home you tread in a big pile of dog and what do you do with dog when it gets on your shoes number one do not absolutely forbidden in buddhism breaking the precept of wisdom you don't scrape it off your shoes you must always take it home with you and only scrape it off when you get to your garden and scrape it off under the flowers or the apple tree or the mango tree whatever fruit you like that's where you scrape off the dog poo because one year later your mango tree would have so many more mangoes they'll be much sweeter than ever before and whenever you bite into that mango and the juice drips down your cheek you must always remember what you're really eating and it's true you're eating dog that's where it came from but it's all been transformed into anger
- Floating houses on the Bangladesh DeltaStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Rather than relocating people from the flood-prone Bangladesh Delta — their home and livelihood — a relief organisation Brahm read about built floating houses that rise with the…
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And I remember reading, again, there are some very wise relief relief organizations in the Bangladesh Delta which often gets flooded. Actually it was supposed to be a cyclone or so in the newspapers. Was it yesterday? I hope it didn't sort of cause too much damage in Bangladesh in Dhaka. It was supposed to be, I read in the newspapers on the aircraft, nothing much else to do there. And so this was going in that direction. But a great organization was reading, "No, we will not move the people on the Delta. This is their home. They've grown up there. This is their livelihood." So instead they built floating houses for them. So when the storms came, the houses would just float up. When the storms subsided, they would float down again. Brilliant idea. Instead of mooring things to the ground, they're using wisdom leads to innovation.
- “It's about time you took the pansil”Story · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: As a young man who has been visiting a temple for some time, he's taken aside by a monk: it's about time he 'took the pansil'. Not knowing what that was, he hears the five…
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one of the priests took me aside he'd been coming here long enough it's about time you took the pencil this was accurate this has happened it was an Atty temple but I use this when I can words I said then it will sir what is the pencil you know not kidding and everything I'm a vegetarian not sort of stealing even if the conductors have vouched for my fare I always give it to him so you need my fare here it is not committing adultery who won girlfriend was expensive enough not lying it never felt right to tell a lie to anybody and not take an alcohol I said I've been giving up alcohol a long time already and now you know I was may say I was conceited but it was a good anecdote I said venerable so I don't need to take the 5p sense I've been keeping them for the last couple of years without knowing that there were precepts
- Itch on your head, scratching your bottomAnalogy · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Ajahn Chah's one-liner on blame, applied to the newly built monastery wall a backhoe pushed over: blaming someone is like having an itch on your head and scratching your bottom.…
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he said if you blame somebody who's responsible for pushing that wall over body nana monastery who's responsible for making that big mistake who is responsible for not doing it in time who's responsible for not sending emails correctly who's responsible he said that is like having an itch on your head and you scratch your bum think about it if you've got an itch down here and you scratch your head does the itch go away of course not but you get two itches for the price of one
- May you get whatever you want as soon as you want itStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Middle-Eastern friend: second-worst curse is fleas of a thousand camels in your armpits; worst is getting whatever you want immediately.
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two worst curses in the Arab world. And the worst curse you can second worst curse you can give to somebody was to wish somebody "May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits." [laughter] The fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits. That's pretty gross. But worse than that was "May you get whatever you want as soon as you want it
- Money or wisdom?Story · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Gandhi's law professor asks him: if you found two bags in the street, one of money and one of wisdom, and could take only one, which would you take? Gandhi: 'The money.' 'That's…
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that Gandhi was challenged by his professor of law. Mr. Gandhi, if you walking down the street and you saw these two big bags, one contained money and the other contained wisdom. Which one would you take up? You can only take one up and take away with you. Money or wisdom? And Gandhi said, I would take the money. That's a trouble with you students these days. You only think of money. And Gandhi replied, "Sir, we always take that which we don't have." Implying very easily that Gandhi was a poor student, but his professor had no wisdom.
- Nudge the bushfireAnalogy · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: From the 1991 crown fire at Serpentine he learned you can't control a bushfire by facing it head-on and saying stop. You nudge it this way and that — a bit of back-burning, a…
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living out in the bush in Serpentine and having been through some some of the worst bushfires over there in was it 1991? The hottest day of the year, the hottest day ever in Western Australia that day when we had a bushfire in Serpentine. There was another day a few months later which was even hotter. And that was a day a huge bushfire, crown fire came through our land. I learned a lot about bushfires there. How you can't control them. What you do is you nudge them this way and nudge them that way. You don't face them head on and say stop. Can't be done. You know by back burning, just by a little bit of fire break here, by watering this way just to push them slightly around. And that's the the they usually dealt with. Not the head-on control. That's waste time. So, you can nudge, but you can't control.
- One side is right but not correctStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Ajahn Brahm quotes 'Great Master Ran': in an argument one side is right but not correct, the other correct but not right — so both are learning rather than winning.
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Great Master ran sometimes would I take an hour to say he would just sum up in just know one second with these p statements he said when there is an argument he said one side is right but not correct the other side is correct but not right that's a beautiful saying isn't it so you have an argument with your wife with your husband who's right and who's wrong
- Oxfam charged for the corrugated ironStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: As a new monk Ajahn Brahm read about Oxfam's earthquake relief in Guatemala: instead of giving corrugated iron free, they charged about 5% of cost. Critics called it wrong for an…
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an example of that which I I read when I was first a monk was uh a case of an organization which you may know, it's one of the biggest NGO aid organizations, Oxfam, who went into this the country of Guatemala uh during uh after some earthquakes which devastated uh many areas in Guatemala. And the notable uh exception to their relief effort was that they charged the people who received corrugated iron to to build their new houses. They charged them a small fee to buy the corrugated iron. And many people criticized them. "You're an aid organization. You should be giving these things out for free." But the fellow in charge of this group in Guatemala said, "No, listen." And they were charging maybe 5% of the the cost price you know, of the corrugated iron, so they could build shelters for themselves in the devastated areas. They're charging 5%, which was just a a token for what the thing really cost. But the man in charge said, "We don't just want to build them houses. We want to rebuild their self-esteem as well. So the people who rebuild their houses with a tiny bit of money, which doesn't know come nowhere near to covering even 5% of the costs, is so that when they've built their house, they can feel they have actually contributed
- Professor Blair and the zero-sum universeStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: At a UWA event with physicist David Blair he asks where the universe's mass-energy came from if it cannot be created. From silence he suggests total negative energy equals total…
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I was doing a presentation with with uh David Blair you know he's still the professor of physics at uwa still a good friend and I remember this little um interchange we had you know at an event there and when I said you know about where does the universe come from you know because there's a basic law of science I'm sure everybody knows this one that you cannot create mass energy you cannot destroy it energy Mass it just changes from one to the other but energy cannot be created nor destroyed I'm sure you've heard that so the question comes where did this energy called you know the universe come from where did the planets the dark energy everything where did it all come from because it cannot be created cannot be destroyed was a beginning of this universe a just a time when the laws of physics just didn't hold or is the laws of physics which is basically logic reason was it always there so in that uh little part of the discussion just you know just thinking from Silence I said well look I know from the physics which I remember there is a physical quantity called negative energy now to explain that to you that is like if you remember your high school physics science what they called potential energy that if something is in a gravitational field this clock to take this free from the Earth's gravitational field it takes up a lot of energy that's why they have to have these huge Rockets basically putting an explosion you know up the astronauts bump I think that was uh who said that one of the great astronauts he said that's like going off into outer space you know fortunately got lots of metal between you and the explosion but that's basically what it is a big bomb under your ass T to propel you up into space and please excuse me for using the language which you use so anyway that's what it's like that's the energy you need just to free this from a gravitational field so being in a gravitational field is a form of negative energy that's one and there's many others so just thinking outside the box you know because you know how to be silent so what would it be like Professor Blair if the total amount the sum total of negative energy negative mass energy in this universe equaled the amount of positive mass energy in this universe that's a a valid concept so if all the the planet solar systems everything and the energy Fields all came together they totally balance so mass energy vanishes you cannot create mass energy we don't need to because the sum total is zero so go back that's where it came from if you add everything together it's zero sum universe is a zero sum game and when I said that he looked at me and I still remember the expression on his face actually bro I never realized you are so up toate Omega equals 1 I don't know what omega mean but it was a ratio to negative and positive energy said wow where did you get that from Easy from silence and that's in the world the wisdom born of Silence
- Put a sticker on it — seven daysStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: 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…
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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
- “Take them out one by one”Story · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Asked by Fr Frank Brennan how to deal with troublesome fundamentalists, Abbot Placid of New Norcia shocks the room with “Take them out one by one” — then explains: deal with them…
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I remember at a conference at UWA it was actually Father Frank Brennan was there, the Jesuit priest. He asked this question, he said, "I do work in universities." "I so easily get on with Buddhists, with Hindus, with Jewish, all religions." The only difficulty he has is with the born-again, the fundamentalists, the sort-of Charismatic Christians. He asked Abbot Placid, not me, he said "What would you be your advice to deal with the Charismatic Christians, the real troublemakers?" Abbot Placid said, "Take them out one by one." An outrageous thing for an abbot to say. [laughter] Ajahn: He had a great sense of humor. But then he said afterwards, "Deal with them later on, singly, one by one."
- The 'fearless' monk on the burning busStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: During a spate of deadly bus fires in north-east Thailand, someone on Ajahn Brahm's bus shouts “fire!”; the driver leaps out the window and everyone flees, including his fellow…
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In Thailand many years ago when I was there about five years as a monk, that all the buses in the Northeast were very old, 'cause they just tried to use them until they could literally not to run anymore, so they're very old buses. And it happened that one bus caught fire because it wasn't well maintained, and actually people got incinerated inside. I don't know why it was, but one bus after another, it was a whole spate of these buses suddenly catching fire. I know one of the monks I was practicing with in the monastery, he was actually on one those buses, he managed to get out but I think his bowl and his robes all got burnt in the fire and he got some compensation from the bus company. That's how dangerous it was. I was on one of these buses once. As a monk they always put you in the front seat, you know why that is, so that you can stop people having head-on collisions because you've got good kamma, you protect all the people around the back. But .... There was a fire in the back and they shouted out "fire, fire," and the bus driver slammed on the brakes, you almost went through the window but you managed to stop yourself, so he slammed on the brakes, and he was out the window himself. And all the people, they rushed out of the door. And it was actually another monk with me, now as a monk we're not supposed to get in contact with women, and nuns are not supposed to get in contact with men. So there were women on the bus, but this monk sitting next to me, he didn't mind, he was out. But I was a very well-behaved monk and let the other people go out first of all, you know I was brought up in England being a gentleman. [laughter] But most of the reason why I didn't get out was 'cause my Thai wasn't that good, I wondered what all the commotion was about, 'cause I didn't understand "fire," and I hadn't read the newspapers of how many people got killed. So I just sat there quite peacefully and actually I was... I wasn't the last one out, I was the second last one out because it was another man who lingered in the back, and he looked, there was only a small amount of smoke, and he shouted out to the other people, everyone was out except me and this guy, and he said, "It's only a cigarette, it's not a real fire, just cigarette smoke." So when people heard that, they put the cigarette out, and everyone started coming in, I was sitting in the front seat, and they said, "Oh, the saint, the arahant, the holy enlightened Western monk. Oh, you're so wonderful, you had no fear," not like that the other scalawag monk who ran out and touched all of us. [laughter] That was a wonderful moment for me but to be honest, I wasn't a hero I was just stupid 'cause I didn't know what was going on.
- The crab with a limpAnalogy · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Ajahn Chah's last teaching before he stopped teaching, acted out with his hands: a crab with a wonky leg tells its babies, 'I walk with a limp; don't you walk like me.' But all…
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he would get his hands out, and imitate a crab with a lame leg. So, once there was a crab with a wonky leg, and it always walked with a limp, and it told his little baby crabs, he said, "Look, I've got a bad leg. That's why I walk with a limp. Don't you walk like me." But all the baby crabs also walked with a limp, just like their mummy. They were just sheep. And he said, "Don't do that".
- The dog, the lion and the monkeyStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: A dog wanders too far into an African forest and a lion decides to eat him. The dog finds some bones, sits with his back to the lion and, as it's about to pounce, licks his lips:…
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once upon a time there was a dog who went for a walk in the forest in Africa and he walked a bit too far because a lion saw him and the lion thought that dog will make a good dinner and a dog heard that. How could a dog escape from a lion? But this dog, he must have listened to some of the the uh YouTube talks from here because he was a very very smart dog. I'm sure he was a Buddhist. So what he did, he managed to find some bones and he sat in front of the bones with his back towards the lion totally unafraid. And as the lion was about to pounce, the dog licked his lips and said, "M, what a delicious meal. These lions are very, very tasty. I wonder when I can get my next lion to eat. And the lion heard that, thought, "My goodness, that must be a really vicious dog. He's eaten another lion. I'm not going to be his dinner." And so the lion turned around and ran away. But there was a monkey and that monkey saw that that conversation and he said, "I'm not going to let the dog get away with tricking this lion." So he went up to the line and said, "You've been tricked. you're a fool. You know, this dog, you know, can't eat lions. You know, he just said this to scare you away. And so the lion got very upset and said, "I'm going to go and eat that dog." And the monkey said, "I can't come with you to watch." So the monkey jumped on the lion's back and the lion went straight towards the dog and the dog saw them coming. So he went in front of the pile of bones again with his back towards the lion and the monkey on the back. And as they came close, the dog licked his lips again and he said, "Where's that damn monkey? He promised he'd bring me another lion.
- The emperor visits the two hermitsStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Mahayana tale: top-of-mountain hermit and mid-slope hermit; Chinese emperor climbs to seek counsel from both — cooperation/wisdom frame (open).
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two Hermits they were living these were monks and they were living up on the mountain they had you know the the top hermit just because he lived on the very top of the mountain and the one which lived halfway down you know because we were both Hermits they didn't want to live next to each other they're both really really good good monks and they very wise and very compassionate that when the Emperor of China was having problems you know in his country he decided to go and visit those Hermits so the emperor he went up to the the top hermit first
- The empty drum and the babbling brookAnalogy · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: An empty drum makes a big noise when you bang it; a solid piece of wood doesn't. Small mountain streams babble, while the big rivers flow silently. Are you a babbling brook, or a…
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it's the empty things which make all the noise which is true you get like a drum it's empty inside you bang it and makes this big noise if you had like a solid piece of wood it doesn't make so much noise and actually that's why the Buddha said this it's the empty things talk too much and it's see it's the small rivers the small streams like in the mountains they're the ones who make all the noise the Babbling Brooks the big rivers flow silently so you are you a babbling brook or are you a great river flowing majestically and silently through your life
- The flower pot physicists didn't seeStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: At Imperial College, London, a flower pot is made to levitate with a hidden electromagnet under the bench. The physicists who watch it insist it didn't happen — it stayed on the…
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I've said before about the flower pot experiment that was done in uh in Imperial College in London. They got a flower pot to levitate. People who actually saw it, these were physicists. They said it didn't happen. It did happen. They refuse to admit it because it's impossible. But it did happen. It was it was a trick. There was like a a um electromag electromagnet under the bench, but they didn't realize that they it did actually levitate. But they said, "I didn't see it. It was on the table all the time." And that's a very good example of we see only what we want to see.
- The governor who ended witchcraft accusationsStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: A woman accused of witchcraft faces burning; a smart colonial governor (Pennsylvania framing as recalled) handles the fear so well that witchcraft panic ends in that state while…
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this lady was accused of being a witch and remember this was you know that time that meant being burn at the steak and you know terrible stuff and so he just asked her well let let's get down to the hub of these things you know are you a witch he saides I am do you fly around on broomsticks he saides I do' she's admitting guilt and so this William pen said well I can't say anything wrong with that cas's dismissed you know as long you don't crash into Steeples and stuff you can fly around on the broomstick as much as you like and that was it she was dismissed and there was no more problem with witchcraft
- The man who wouldn't drop his hempStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Two men go to an abandoned region to scavenge. Both bundle up hemp. Finding hemp cloth, one throws his hemp away and takes the cloth; the other says his bundle is good enough.…
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There's one of the old Buddhist stories—this is a story from the Digha Nikaya—where two men went out to an abandoned region where people have migrated, to see if they'd left anything of value which they could bring home for which they could make some money. As they went out to that abandoned village, one person found some old hemp, and told his friend so they made a big bundle of hemp to carry back to the village—it was worth something. And on the way, one of them noticed that there was some cloth made of hemp. He said, "This is what the hemps is for: to make cloth," so he threw away his bundle of hemp and took up the cloth. The other guy said, "No, this is already packed up. This is good enough for me." He didn't want to change. And then, later on, they found some cotton cloth. He said, "Cotton cloth is more important than my hemp cloth, so I'm going to throw out my hemp cloth and take the cotton cloth." The other guy said, "No, this hemp is good enough for me." And then they found some silk. One guy through away the cotton cloth and got some silk. The other guy—still with the pieces of hemp on his head—said, "No, this will do for me." One person was always willing to change for something better. And then after they found some silk, they found some silver. So he threw away his silk and took some silver. And eventually they found some gold, so he threw away the silver to take the gold. And when they arrived back home, one had a whole pack of gold, the other one had some hemp. And the beautiful way the Buddha told this story, he said, "The one who brought the hemp back brought no happiness to his family and got scolded by them. And the one who brought the gold back was welcomed with a lot of smiles by his family.
- The minister who read their mindsStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Long ago a Thai minister is so wise that the king always prefers his advice, and the other ministers, jealous, plot to embarrass him. In front of the king they flatter him:…
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There was this guy actually he was a a minister in the Thai government many many know decades ago, hundreds of years ago. And they he was really smart. He was so smart that everyone else was jealous of him. The king always prepare preferred this minister's advice than anybody else. So you know what it's like in politics. They decided to gang up to get rid of this guy. He was always embarrassing them. So they decided to challenge him. So in the morning in front of the king they said your minister you're so lucky to have such a wise and experienced minister you know he knows everything and the said yeah that's true he was so arrogant and the other minister said he probably knows how to read our minds and he said yes I do he'd fallen into their trap already agreed even if they he could read their minds. Even if he said exactly what they were thinking, they would deny it. How can you prove what a person is thinking? So he said, "Yes, I can read all your minds." So what are we thinking? And then this minister said, "Actually, every one of you is thinking the same thing. You're always thinking kind and benevolent and loyal thoughts towards his majesty. I said, "Yes, it's amazing. You read our minds." [laughter] Of of course they weren't thinking that at all, but to deny that would put them in big trouble.
- The moon in a still lakeAnalogy · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Simile (on a full-moon retreat night): if there are waves or ripples on a lake you can't see a perfect image of the moon and stars; when not one ripple crosses it, you get a…
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the simile I usually give is a simile of a lake if there's waves on the surface of the lake you can never get a a clear reflection of the stars and the full moon and if you look up the sky this evening and tomorrow the the moon is full it's a very beautiful time to start meditating and if you go to one of the the Lakes the lake down the bottom and you look at the image of that Moon if there are waves or ripples in that Lake you can't see a perfect image but you can imagine when that lake is perfectly still when there's not even one Ripple moving across the surface of the lake you get a perfect reflection of the moon and the stars and that's just like the mind to be able to reflect reality to see things as they truly are without Distortion we got to use a mind which is perfectly still so there's not even a ripple on the surface of that mind
- The professor's overflowing cupStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Japan's greatest philosopher, whom no one will debate, decides to debate the most famous meditation monk. Serving tea, the monk keeps pouring past the full cup, into the saucer,…
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is in that old story of the famous philosopher in Japan many, many years ago. He was a professor not just at one university, but of several universities. And he was so well known. He was the biggest intellectual in the country. And just for a bit of fun, but also for a bit of intellectual stimulation, he would hold these debates with all the other philosophers, but he was so sharp, he was so knowledgeable, that no person would enter into a debate with him because he would always win. And so wondering who to debate next, he thought I will debate a Buddhist monk. They are said to be wise, but they're really stupid; he thought, I'll go and debate the most famous monk in the country and see who wins So he found this monk, this meditation monk and he arranged to have a debate with this monk. And so he went to the monastery with all of his students to debate with this monk, and being in Japan, before the debate actually started. It was the task of the host, the monk, to serve tea to the guest, the professor, and as he was serving tea to the professor, he poured the tea into the cup. And when the cup was full, he carried on pouring and so the water went into the saucer, at which point the professor said to the monk, "My cup is full, you can stop now". But, the monk carried on pouring until it went over to the cup into the saucer over the saucer onto the table, at which point, the Professor thought this monk must be a bit hard of hearing or a bit blind. So, he shouted, "Monk, my cup is full! You can stop now!" At which point, the monk smiled broadly and emptied the whole teapot until it went not just over the cup into the saucer, not just over the saucer onto the table, onto the floor as well! At which point, the professor said, "You stupid monk! I've come all this way to debate with you. And you don't even know how to serve a cup of tea. What an idiot, what a fraud. I wasted my whole time." At which point that monk said, if you haven't heard this story before, it's a great story. He said, "Professor, you are just like this cup. You're so full that no one can pour, any wisdom into you." At which point, the professor went down on his knees and said, "You've won."
- The samurai who asked about heaven and hellStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: A samurai who has asked everyone whether heaven and hell exist finally demands a straight answer from an old monk. The monk says he's too stupid to understand; then calls him a…
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there's this old story and this is great Buddhist wisdom because it brings things down from Superstition down into ordinary daily life many of you heard the story before but it's a great story about the the old samurai warrior who too wanted to know what do really Buddhist think about heaven and hell is there a heaven is there a hell no really and he gone around to many many people and no one could give him a a good answer there may be the same with you may have gone to many sort of temples many talks ask many people and it's sort of satisfying you can't really get a straight answer which really satisfies you and answers the question once and for all so this sumai eventually found this old Monk and said old monk look this is my question you know I I've gone around asking so many people this I'm almost fed out to ask it again but is there a heaven is there a hell now if you know this and really know it say so but if you don't know it don't waste my time just say I don't know okay and the mark looked up on it up for this samurai warrior and said you're St to you're too stupid to understand the samurai said what you call me stupid I'm not stupid I'm a samurai warrior these Samurai Warriors have to go through an enormous amount of training and it's not just the uh martial arts it's a lot of um virtuous training and training in medic meditation said I'm not stupid I'm a samurai warrior and the mon looked up at him you a samurai don't give me that you fool you're just a country bumpkin that's all and the samurai said that's twice you've insulted me and he took hold of his sword if you insult me one more time monk I don't care who you are I'll cut off your head just with one swipe of my sword with that stupid old rusty piece of iron you couldn't even slice a a slice of bread with that and that was enough the samurai insulted three times was incense and he got out his sword and was about to Smite the monk's head off when the monk looked right into his eyes and said samurai that's hell and I keep on saying that was pushing his luck but it worked maybe if it didn't work he wouldn't be able to tell the story but that Samurai understood that anger was what hell is like at last he got an answer which wasn't anything to do with Superstition the Mark wasn't saying it says in my scriptures cuz that really offended me a lot when people say it says in the books that's not what I asked you what's in the books I asked you you now you're supposed to be a Christian you're supposed to be a Buddhist you're supposed to be a teacher I'm not saying what I can read the books myself you is there a heaven is there a hell explain I'm not asking the books I'm asking the person and the last he actually got a proper answer he could understand what hell was and he was so impressed he put aside his sword and he bow to that monk that's what you do in Asia out of respect it's not asking for favors it's an act of like thank you so much and remember Mark looked at him again and saw his eyes were watering out of respect and gratitude and the Mark said to him very softly and Samurai now this is heaven that gratitude and respect that's what heaven is like
- Vultures of metaphysicsAnalogy · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Ajahn Chah on overly intellectual people: they're like vultures — they fly very high in metaphysics, but where they live, they feed on dead stuff.
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what actually what ajahn chah said he said they're like vultures they fly really high in metaphysics but where they live they feed on on dead stuff
- Where everybody thinks the same, no one thinks at allAnalogy · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: At Dalhousie University he joked their Latin motto should be replaced with: where everybody thinks the same, no one thinks at all — praising rebellious, deeper seeing.
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change the name to the old slogan where everybody thinks the same where everybody thinks the same no one thinks at all
- Which of the five horses are you?Analogy · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: Five horses: the first obeys a word; the second needs only the shadow of the whip; the third a light tap; the fourth one hard whack; the fifth is whacked again and again and…
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Once there was five horses and the first horse, a rider would get on its back and just tell it where to go and the horse would comply. The second horse, the rider would have to get out the whip. But there's a shadow fell on the horse and horse. No, I better follow the orders otherwise, you know, I get in trouble. So that's the second horse. He has to only follows orders. is only wise when a shadow of suffering falls on them. The third horse, the owner or the rider has to just tap it slightly, not hurt it, but just tap it, you know, with the whip. And then the horse knows what to do. The fourth horse is so stupid that the owner has to whack it. Ow! But only once. And then the horse realizes a mistake and will never do that again. And the last horse, the fifth horse, whack, whack, whack, whack, ow, ow, ow, ow, and still does the same thing again. So, which horse are you? It's how amazing how many people identify with the fifth horse. Every time you get into trouble, you still don't learn.
- Why some are born intelligentStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: From a sutta: a man asks the Buddha what karma makes people wealthy, then what makes them beautiful or ugly (Ajahn Brahm breaks off to explain why he now stares at the carpet…
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And there they tell the story of this man who came up to the Buddha and asked him like a question on karma. He was saying, you know, I've noticed in this world, some people are just born wealthy, and they managed to maintain that wealth and increase it. Now other people are born poor, and sometimes they get wealthy, but you know, there are some people, they're poor, they work really hard, and they try very hard and they work just all hours of the night and still, it's just so hard to make ends meet. Why can't you be wealthy? While other people they seem to work much less than you, they just got the gift of making money. It must be some karma from a past life that we're born poor in this life. So he asked, What do I have to do in this life? What karma do I have to make in this life to be rich in my next life?" That's a fair enough question. so the Buddha gave him an answer. He was so happy with it. He asked the second question, he said, I've also noticed that sometimes people are very beautiful, while other people are ugly. And you may notice when I mentioned the word "ugly", I stared at the carpet. And the reason for this, the reason for this is I told this story in Singapore once. And I just, I just happened to be looking at a certain woman when I mentioned the word "ugly". Oh, my goodness, did she complain. She said, "Why did you mention the word ugly when you're looking at me?" It's even worse, if I've mentioned the word "beautiful" when I'm looking at someone, they get the wrong idea. (laughter) So anyway, he, the Buddha explained the cause for beauty and ugliness in your next life. But then the killer question, why are some people intelligent, and other people they just have such a hard time at school and university. You've been with some people, they hardly do any of the homework, they just float through school, they get the prizes, and they go to universities, they get double first. You know, for the rest of us. It's just so hard just now just getting the TEE passed. He said, "Why is it? What's the karmic reason why people are born intelligent, and other people aren't intelligent? What's the karmic cause?" And the Buddha said, and this was a beautiful answer. "The karmic reason for stupidity in your next life is not asking questions in this life."
- Zen and the Art of ShippingStory · Ajahn Brahm
In brief: At a transport forum (about clay trucks passing the monastery) a journalist interviews Ajahn Brahm about shipping; game for anything, he makes up 'the Buddhist idea of shipping'.…
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Number one was going to a a transport forum. It was in the Duxton Hotel run by Alana Mat when you know she was minister of transport at that time. and going there because we had some trouble with clay trucks past our monastery and actually going to a forum there. And while I was there, somehow or other, I stood out and so a journalist approached me, asked me what I was doing there, and then interviewed me about shipping. Now, one thing my character is un game to do anything. So, I gave her the Buddhist idea of [Applause] shipping. And of course, as usual, I was making it up as I went along. But they published that article. And the actually it wasn't a her, it was a him. I'm sorry. It was a him who published this article. And I saw him about a year later. And he came up to me and he said, "You wouldn't believe how popular the article was." It was syndicated to every shipping magazine almost in the world under the art under the title Zen and the Art of Shipping. And all his fellow journalists came up to him, not all, but many emailed him and said, "I don't know who the Ajam Brah is, but he certainly knows what he's talking about.