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Ajahn Brahm teaches us how to live a happy and peaceful life.
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Ceramah ini membahas tentang bagaimana menjalani hidup yang bahagia dan damai melalui humor, meditasi, dan penerimaan terhadap ketidakkekalan. Ajahn Brahm membuka dengan menekankan bahwa kedamaian adalah hadiah terbaik dan menunjukkan kebebasan dari ketakutan akan kematian melalui humor tentang persiapan pemakamannya. Ia kemudian menceritakan lelucon panjang tentang peti mati yang dikejar, yang berakhir dengan obat batuk, untuk menekankan pentingnya tawa dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Ia menjelaskan bahwa humor dan tawa berkontribusi pada kesehatan fisik dan mental, dengan contoh dari pengalamannya mengunjungi pasien dan hidup sehat sebagai biksu. Selanjutnya, ia berbagi pengalaman pribadinya terkena scrub typhus dan bagaimana meditasi mendalam membantunya mengatasi penyakit, menekankan kekuatan pikiran untuk menyembuhkan dan pentingnya melepaskan. Ia juga menceritakan kisah-kisah tentang ular, termasuk pertemuannya dengan ular berbisa dan kisah Ajahn Ganha yang menepuk kepala king cobra, untuk menunjukkan bahwa ketenangan dan kebaikan dapat menghilangkan rasa takut. Dalam sesi tanya jawab, ia menjawab pertanyaan tentang bagaimana membawa humor dan perspektif ke dalam masalah, dengan contoh kebakaran hutan di Serpentine, menunjukkan bahwa sikap positif dan kepercayaan pada perlindungan dapat membantu. Ia juga berdiskusi tentang kekuatan pikiran untuk menyembuhkan, dengan contoh seorang wanita yang mencapai meditasi dalam, dan menekankan bahwa kedamaian bukanlah perlawanan melainkan ketenangan. Terakhir, ia menjawab pertanyaan tentang kebebasan dari keinginan, ketidakpastian, dan anatta, menjelaskan bahwa kebebasan berarti tidak dikendalikan oleh keinginan dan bahwa ketidakpastian bisa diterima dengan damai. Pesan utama dari ceramah ini adalah bahwa dengan mengembangkan humor, meditasi, dan penerimaan terhadap ketidakkekalan, kita dapat mencapai kebahagiaan dan kedamaian sejati dalam hidup.
I said, thank you for giving me the opportunity to meditate myself.
I actually enjoy this.
It's kind of incorrect to call this work,
but it's not only very, very, very pleasant for me.
I've been doing this for such a long time, so many years,
so I'm skilled at getting peaceful.
And seeing my mind just go into such quietness.
Peace is beautiful.
And giving yourself the gift of peace
is one of the best gifts you can possibly get.
Doesn't cost anything, doesn't need anything,
just like comfort and nothing to do, nowhere to go.
Staying where you are and seeing what happens next.
And what happens is just usually a great sense of being at ease
and also being healthy too.
Recently, it was a kind of half a joke,
but it's true also.
When, I'm getting old now,
and so we're a Buddhist society,
so we started a subcommittee
to arrange how to do my funeral service.
And I feel so healthy, honestly.
So some people say,
well, why do you do that for?
Why not 75 soon,
or I call it 900.
900 is much more fun.
900 months old.
And because as a, it's weird,
as a Buddhist,
ever since I was a young monk,
you were never afraid of death.
We're all going to go one day.
Let's make it a very big celebration.
Why not?
And also, we get some nice, like, funny stories.
Is she here?
Can't see her.
But anyway, the one person said something really important.
You know, I'm a monk,
but I'm also a human being.
And so we got some kind of responsibilities we have to do.
And one of those responsibilities
is actually writing out a will.
I haven't done that yet.
And I said,
what do I need a will for?
Because I don't have any assets.
I said, honestly, I don't have any bank account.
I said, absolutely honest,
I don't have any money.
I don't have any checks.
I don't have a credit card.
I don't have anything,
which you all take as ordinary stuff you have to carry around.
So I said, why write out a will when you don't have anything?
And then somebody said,
oh, but Ajahn Brahm,
you do have some assets which are worth something.
I said, no, I don't.
He said, yes, you do.
He said, you have your frequent flyer points,
which are worth quite a bit.
I said, okay.
I hereby, in front of everybody here,
I hereby donate my frequent flyer points, if I die,
to the person who noticed that.
Well done.
You don't care about money and stuff.
That's the weird thing about being a monk, and it's true.
I've been a monk for such a long time now,
52 years,
and you always have more than enough food,
a nice place to stay at night.
What do you need
to live a nice, happy, successful life?
All you need is your peace,
good health,
and just a happiness,
with no fear at all,
and with the ability to enjoy people's company,
to crack jokes,
to listen to your jokes,
and to have a beautiful time together.
I would tell you one of my jokes,
but then you've heard all of it,
all of them for so many times.
So because of that...
Oh, okay.
One really bad joke.
It's been a while since you heard.
It's a scary joke, though,
about ghosts.
One day,
there was a person
who was not afraid of ghosts at all,
so decided to take the shortcut
back home
through the cemetery.
Have you ever thought of walking through the cemetery at night?
Are you brave enough to do so?
No, why not?
So anyhow,
this guy,
he was taking the shortcut
through the cemetery,
and after getting half the way through the cemetery,
only then,
only then,
did he start to hear this weird sound behind him.
It sounded
like something was following him.
And automatically,
he walked a little bit faster.
That's what happens when you're a bit scared.
But even though he was walking faster,
he heard the thing behind him
also walk faster.
He paid attention
and could hear it.
Bump.
Bump.
Bump.
Bump.
Walking faster and faster.
For those who are going out,
it's got a very happy ending,
so don't be too scared.
So,
he made a big mistake.
Never do this.
The mistake was
looking around
to see what it was.
Oh, yes.
And when he looked around,
he saw very clearly
it was.
What's the scariest thing
you could possibly see?
A coffin.
A vertical coffin.
It was bump,
bump,
bump,
following him.
You could see the dirt
on that coffin.
It must have just come out of the ground.
You could see some of the cobwebs still on it.
Bump, bump, bump.
He was chasing him.
And he kind of thought,
if I can get out of the cemetery,
I'll be safe.
Because the coffins,
they belong in cemeteries.
And people are outside.
So he started running
really fast.
The front gate of the cemetery
was not too far away.
Bump, bump, bump, bump.
But the coffin was fast.
The coffin was catching up with him.
But fortunately,
he was a good runner.
He managed to get out the front gate
of the cemetery
before the coffin
would catch up with him.
Are you enjoying this story?
If so,
we'll do the next part of the story
next month.
No.
So as he got out,
of the cemetery,
he thought he'd made it to safety.
But as he turned around again,
he saw the coffin had come out
of the front gate
and was bumping behind him.
So he really sprinted
as hard as he could
to get to his house.
The front gate
was only just a little bit further.
He managed to get to his front gate.
He didn't open his front gate.
He jumped over.
He was so scared.
He jumped over
and looked around.
That coffin
had seen him
and was now trying to
smash
down the front
iron gate
of his garden.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
And the gate
was not strong enough
to resist
the coffin.
So he ran
to the front door
of his house.
He got out
his bunch of keys
in his pocket
and he was so scared,
he dropped the keys!
And he quickly
picked the keys up.
He didn't have time
to look at the keys,
find out the right one.
Whatever key he picked up,
he put in the lock.
Oh!
He was so lucky.
He picked up the correct key,
turned the lock,
opened the door,
jumped inside
and smashed
the front door closed.
Just
as he could see
through the glass
of his front door,
the coffin
just come to the front door.
He was breathing very heavily.
Because of all that running
and all of that
scare.
And he saw
the coffin.
He was in his front,
his house now.
And he saw the coffin.
Bang!
Sorry.
I apologize.
That's a nice ending.
Bang!
Bang!
The coffin was trying to
break the front door
of this man's house.
What would you do now?
The fellow thought,
my goodness.
What I'm gonna do is,
the only other room
which has a lock on it
in his house
was his washroom.
And that was on the
second story.
So he jumped up
and rushed up
to the stairs.
Got to the top
of the
stairs.
And just at that point,
please excuse me.
Bang!
And the coffin
broke through
the front door
of his house.
That's really scary.
And as I said,
the coffin looked
to the left.
The coffin looked
to the right.
Couldn't spot him.
He was on the
top story so
he thought he was
safe now.
But then the coffin
looked up
and saw him.
So the coffin
bump,
bump,
bump,
bump,
started bumping
up the stairs.
He rushed into
the washroom.
He blocked
the washroom.
But do you think
that could protect him?
This coffin
was so
supernaturally
strong.
It could break
down the
front door
of his house.
The washroom
door would give
very little
protection.
He was so
scared.
He didn't
know what
to do.
But then
bang!
Bang!
Bang!
As the
coffin
started breaking
the washroom
door down,
the coffin
broke.
Until soon
that
coffin
was in
his washroom
and broken
the door
down.
And now
there was
no other
escape.
Nowhere
to run.
He was just
facing the
coffin.
The sum
total of
all his
fears
was right
before him.
Bump,
bump,
bump.
Getting
closer
and closer.
Until.
What would
you do
in a
situation
like that?
Well he
did.
He reached
for anything
to throw
at the
coffin.
Such a
fortunate
choice.
He got
this whole
glass
bottle
of something
on the
shelf.
Threw it
at the
coffin.
And the
bottle
burst
under
impact.
And all
this really
smelly
brown
liquid
came out.
And the
coffin
never moved
again.
That was
cough
medicine.
You ask
a
pharmacist
guaranteed
guaranteed
to
stop
the
coffin.
If you
want to
throw
something
at
me,
please do
so.
I deserve
it.
That's
one of the
worst
jokes.
But
nevertheless
I tell
it every
other week.
Why can't
we have
a little
bit of
humor
when you
tell a
story?
And people
say,
that's
a terrible
joke I
tell,
but you
all tell
it to your
friends
afterwards.
Because the
happiness,
joy,
is actually
part of
what we
teach.
We relax,
we enjoy
our lives.
Make
peace,
be
kind,
be
gentle.
And I
kind of
like
those words,
that's
what they're
in front
here.
And always
try and
give talks
which
explain
that.
Making a
funny story,
even if
you've
heard it
before,
you can
always add
a little
bit to
it every
time,
does
just
make
like
life
enjoyable.
Can't
we
have
joy in
our
life?
So you
can create
that joy.
Make
that joy
happen.
And you
feel so
much
better
afterwards.
So much
healthier.
That's
one of
the reasons
why I
did tell
that story
to the
Cancer
Support
Association
this
week.
The
silly
story.
But it
was beautiful
to be able
to make
people who
are usually
afraid,
laugh,
let go,
relax.
Don't
you enjoy
those times
when you
can laugh,
relax
to the
max?
And then
when you
relax to
the max,
it's not
you just
have a
wonderful
afternoon.
You find
you do get
that
feeling
of
happiness
and
joy.
laughter.
It's
the
positive
effect
on
your
health.
Not
just
on
your
health,
even
on
a
Friday
evening.
Haven't
you got
something
better to
do?
You come
here,
why?
Number
one,
you enjoy
the time
here.
Learn
about deeper
meditation.
Get that
happiness,
that joy.
And there's
other things
which come
from that
as well.
What
causes
suffering
in your
life?
Now it's
not just
sicknesses.
Why do
sicknesses
come?
When I
was saying
earlier
about,
you know,
my funeral
preparations.
Honestly,
the fellow's
not here at
the moment.
I hope he's
not listening
online.
But I
kind of
find that
funny.
Don't
you?
I find it
funny
because
I am
incredibly
healthy.
I haven't
been sick
in years.
Usually,
the only time
I go to
hospitals
is go to
visit the
sick.
But even
then,
I was
told,
please,
Ajahn Brahm,
don't come
and visit
sick people
too often
in hospital.
And the
reason they
told me
that was
that there's
this poor
lady who
was our
secretary
many years
ago.
She had
a hysterectomy.
And,
you know,
that's,
she said,
that was
kind of
threatening
her existence.
And that's
where they
take out
the womb
and you
can't
have
children
anymore.
So,
she said,
I was
spiritually
needed some
counseling,
some nice
advice.
But they
said,
you know,
the wound
when you
have a
hysterectomy
is in
your chest
and it's
vertical
wound.
That's
what she
had,
apparently.
And she
said,
please,
if I
laugh,
it
really
hurts.
So she
told me,
Ajahn Brahm,
can you
please promise
me you
won't
tell any
funny
stories?
And I
said,
sorry,
I can't.
And even
the best
kindness
in the
world,
you know,
for me,
like life
is fun.
And when
it came
to
visiting
her
quite a
few
times,
but she
kept on
asking for
another funny
story.
Why?
Because
it's
also the
relaxation
which
humor
makes and
you don't
feel so
serious
about what's
happening or
what could
happen in
your life.
Because you
don't think
too much
about what
might happen
in life,
which is
usually
doesn't
happen.
You can
actually recover
much more
quickly.
And that's
one of the
reasons why
it's been
years since
I've been
sick.
Remember the
times when
I have
been sick.
And those
times,
years and
years ago,
I do
remember
even,
I don't,
okay, I can
say these
things.
That's
years and
years and
years ago,
I had
a
scrub
typhus
over in
Thailand.
At that
time, I
would have
been about
23 or
24.
That's
a long
time ago,
just been
ordained as
a monk.
And I
didn't know
it was
scrub
typhus.
life is
like.
That they
look at
the experts
and the
experts
say,
there is
no scrub
typhus
in the
place where
I was
living in
northeast
Thailand.
They said,
there's
been no cases
of it.
And the
reason why
there had
been no cases
of scrub
typhus in
that part
of Thailand
was that
the locals
had got
immunity.
It was
only the
western
monks who
went up
there to
sleep in
the forest.
Only those
would develop
this disease.
It lives
with little
mites
in the forest.
And if
they bite
you,
such small
little
specks
of dirt
on the
body.
And then
they
transfer
the scrub
typhus
to you.
And the
symptoms
of scrub
typhus
are exactly
the same
or very
similar
to
typhoid.
So it's
a serious
disease.
And I
remember
when I
was
a young
monk,
I was
the
monastery
of
Ubon
Rajatani
Hospital.
And then
at
six
p.m.
I
was
in
the
monk's
ward
of
Ubon
Rajatani
Hospital.
And
then
at
six
just
half
to six
p.m.
I
could
speak
enough
Laotian
to tell
the monk
in my
next
bed
to me,
said,
the
night
nurse
hasn't
come.
Should
we
go and
kind
of
let
people
know
there's
no night
nurse
alive
this evening?
And that's
when he
said,
there
is
no
night
nurse
ever.
What
happens
if
something
goes
wrong
with
our
body
at
night
time
if
we
get
very,
very
sick?
He
said,
that's
just
unfortunate
karma.
That's
what
some
Buddhists
say,
but
that
wasn't
the
worst
of it.
The
worst
of it,
because
they
didn't
know
what
the
disease
was.
Are
there
any
nurses
or
doctors
here?
Okay.
When
you
give
an
injection,
where
do
you
usually
put
it?
In
the
bottom,
yeah.
So,
I
got
injections
twice a
day,
morning
and
afternoon.
What
type of
needles
do they
use these
days?
Recyclable
ones?
Single
use.
That
would
have
been
so
wonderful.
The
ones
which
I
had
in
my
butt.
That
was
used
many,
many
times.
It
was
recycled
over
in
Bangkok
first
of
all
for
the
rich
people.
And
then
it
would
be
sent
out
to
the
provinces
where
it was
already,
the
needles
were so
dull.
And
last
of all,
it
was used
for
the
monks.
We
were
the
tough
guys.
After
a few
weeks,
a few
days
of
those
needles,
we
weren't
tough
anymore.
That
really
hurt.
And
people
say,
but
it
was
nurses.
Nurses,
they're
supposed
to be
soft
and
kind.
Not
the
ones
in
this
hospital.
That
really
hurt.
And
the
nurse
wasn't
like this
young Thai
girl.
She
was old
and tough
because
she had
to be.
I
always
said,
I gave
her a
nickname,
the
water
buffalo.
She
had
to be
that
strong
to
actually
to get
that dull
needle to
penetrate
your
skin.
And
that
really
hurt.
Twice
a day,
for
day
after
day
after
day
after
day.
And
nothing
was
working.
And
I
do
remember
Ajahn
Chah,
my teacher,
you may have
heard of
him,
he came
in to
see
me.
And I
thought,
wow.
You
know,
I was
only a
young monk
and he
came to
see
me.
And
I
thought,
wow,
I was
so
pleased.
He had
taken the effort
to come and
say
something.
But you
know what
he said.
The worst
thing about
Ajahn Chah
seeing you
when you
were sick,
and it
was a
worse
thing,
it
wasn't
very
pleasant
at all.
Because
what he
said you
couldn't
argue
with,
he said,
Brahma
Wangso,
that's
my full
name,
you're
either
going to
get sick
or you're
going to
die.
No,
you're
either
going to
get better
or you're
going to
die.
If I
came and
visited
you in
hospital
and said
that,
would you
cancel your
membership
of the
BSWA?
It's not
what I wanted
to hear.
So that
didn't help
at all.
But
honestly,
I was
so
exhausted
because
that's
what
fevers
like that
do to
you.
And in
the end,
just one
afternoon,
I decided,
I just
can't stand
this any
longer.
So I decided,
honestly,
to meditate
after many
days of
having this
fever.
And you
could.
That was
the most
amazing
part of
all of
this.
Laying in
the bed
with arms
this way,
legs that
way,
closing
your eyes
and letting
go.
Really
letting
go.
And I
say this
many times.
You
can
disappear.
Even
when you're
in a
fever.
Everything
vanishes.
When
that
happens,
wow,
you get
some
beautiful
meditation.
Imagine,
for those of
you who
have been
in sickness
with
fevers
and diseases
which are
not sort
of reacting
to any
of the
medication
because it's
the wrong
medication.
They don't
know what
the disease
is.
Imagine that
you're laying
down there
and you get
into deep
meditation.
The world
vanishes.
You can't
feel your
body
anymore.
Instead,
you just feel
the peace
of the
mind.
Real
peace.
These are
called the
deep
meditations.
And
the
distinction
between
being in
a
fever,
zero
energy,
and then
being in
these deep
meditations
was just
so
amazing.
It
was just
beautiful.
Free
from the
body
for I
don't know
how long.
Then when I
came out
afterwards,
no more
fever.
I'm
being honest
with you.
I don't
know if I
should say
this,
but I've
already
started,
so.
And then,
no fever
left,
but just
feeling
this half
an hour
or an
hour
of
blissing
out.
And just
when you're
feeling just
absolutely
disgusting,
terribly
really sick
for days,
feeling
that was
just so,
such a
relief,
such a
joy.
When you
know how
to do
those
things,
you've
done it
once,
it can
be
done,
that was
the end
of that
fever.
Not just
the end
of the
fever,
that was
the end
of seeing
all my
guests.
Bye
bye.
Anyway.
It was
true.
And one
of the
things which
I did
notice
afterwards,
I don't
know why
I paid
attention
to this,
I looked
at my
posture,
the way
I was
laying.
Because I'd
read books
about meditation,
they always
said you're
supposed to
sit with
right leg
over the
left leg,
you know,
in full
lotus,
with the
right hand
over the
left hand,
the back
straight,
the chin
in.
It was
a terrible
posture.
Nothing like
I'd ever
seen
described
in any
book.
And that's
when I
kind of,
that's one
of the
reasons why
I never
suggest
postures
to you.
Because my
own
experience
says,
however
you're
comfortable,
that's
how you
should
sit.
Don't
follow
books.
Follow
how you
feel.
And if you
really are
comfortable,
at ease,
wonderful.
And then after
a while,
your body
can disappear.
I really
mean
disappearing.
You can't
feel anything
in your
head,
in your
shoulders,
in your
body,
any fever
disappears.
And afterwards,
it's
And one
of the
things,
and so
such a
long time
ago,
one of
those things
which I
will always
remember
from that
experience,
was just,
it's
not
hard.
Just
let
go.
And then
you,
no
disease
can
even
harm
you.
Have I?
I can't
remember.
It means
you're
not
afraid.
So when I
do tell
you,
yes,
you can
arrange my
funeral,
but it's
gonna be
just a
piece of
paper in
a box
somewhere,
I'm
never gonna
die yet.
You don't
feel
that
danger
to your
body.
You don't
feel
that sickness.
You've got
that other
level
of just
your mind
keeping
your body
healthy.
Am I
interested
in you?
I hope
I am,
because
this meditation
is incredibly
powerful,
beautiful,
happy,
and if
ever you
do really
need it,
make
peace,
don't
go
on it
with
force,
don't
stress yourself
out,
don't decide
I'm gonna do
this,
I'm gonna make
it happen.
You don't,
you let
go.
You know
what letting
go is?
Relax
to the
max.
I don't
know if
you really
understand
that.
You really
do have
to relax
your whole
body
is at
ease
and then
it just
vanishes
even if
you are
sick.
Just the
sickness
can't
stand
it.
I don't
know how
exactly
it works
but just
you do
see that
with
yourself
and how
easy
it is
to overcome
sicknesses
when you
know how
to.
And because
of that
you're getting
another
angle
on how
to live
a long
healthy
happy
peaceful
life.
Look at
how we
live.
What
about
things
like
you know
lots of
sicknesses
like
diseases
by things
like
snakebite.
For years
I've lived
with snakes
first of all
in Thailand
and then
even down
in the forest
in Serpentine.
And then
sometimes
sometimes
those
experiences
with snakes
like I
remember just
in my
six rains
retreat
there's lots
of snakes
in this
monastery
I was
and
by mistake
you don't do
that on
purpose
just in
my hut
I opened
the door
and stepped
in as
I usually
did but
just right
in front
of the
door
that was
like a
dark
spot
for me
I never
really paid
attention
to that
I just
always
stepped
in
it was
a snake
and I
jumped
fortunately
I didn't
jump out
of fear
I jumped
realizing it
was a snake
under my
feet and
I never
wanted to
harm it
you don't
want to harm
other living
beings
so I
jumped
and it
jumped
another way
and as
soon as
I stopped
and stared
at it
I said
sorry
I apologize
and you
don't want
to harm
even a
little snake
it wasn't
little it
was fully
grown
and he
looked at
me he
was kind
of shocked
and I
was maybe
a bit
shocked
as well
and I
looked
and said
sorry
and it
never sort
of hissed
or anything
it just put
its head
down and
just crawled
out of my
hut
calmly
and even
more recently
over in
Serpentine
there was
a time
when I
was doing
my six
month
retreat
I was just
outside of
my hut
washing
my bowl
after the
meal
and I
could hear
that there's
many animals
were just
running away
from something
something was
scaring it
and you
found out
what it
was
it was
this big
do-gite
snake
came to
see me
and I
remember
just how
I'll tell
you in a
minute
just how
long it
was
3.2
meters
it's quite
a big
size
do-gite
and anyway
it came
right up
to me
I was just
washing
my bowl
and I
just
ignored
it
I wasn't
scared
because you
have enough
meditation
you don't
have fear
honestly
and so
I finished
washing
my bowl
then I
looked
was a
very hot
day
it had
actually
wanted
the shade
of my
hut
on the
east
facing
wall
which was
shaded
from the
hot sun
at that
time
of the
day
and it
was just
laying
against
the
wall
cooling
off
that's
why I
knew it
was 3.2
meters
long
because I
built that
hut
and I
knew that
was the
length of
that part
of it
and the
amazing
thing was
that its
head
was at
the far
end of
the hut
not
facing
me
and its
tail was
facing me
it was
vulnerable
if ever
I wanted
to do
any harm
but those
snakes
they weren't
scared
they knew
they were
safe
that's the
only reason
it could
do that
so I wished
it well
went back
into my
hut
to do
some more
meditation
I think
actually
snakes
never harm
you
or even
you know the
story with
Ajahn
Ganha
do you know
that story
some of you
do anyway
here it comes
again
Ajahn
Ganha
was sitting
in a
forest
with some
other monks
and a
king cobra
came
king cobras
are very
deadly
snakes
and a
king cobra
going through
the forest
came right up
to Ajahn
Ganha
and put its
nose about
this far
from Ajahn
Ganha's
face
other monks
saw it
that's how
he described
it
what would
you do
if a snake
is that
close
it's a
waste of
time
just jumping
up and
running
away
snakes
can go
much
faster
than you
can
so what
Ajahn
Ganha
did
he
opened
his
eyes
he lifted
up
his
hand
and
patted
the
king
cobra
on
the
head
patted
him
coming
to visit
me
what do
you think
that king
cobra
did
you know
how rare
it is
to be
patted on
the head
by a
holy
monk
that king
cobra
enjoyed
every minute
of it
and he
kept on
patting
him
on
the head
and then
eventually
the king
cobra
sort of
had enough
and closed
its hood
put its
head
down
and went
to see
another
monk
lifted
up
his
head
and the
second
monk
said
no
way
if
you
want
more
more pats
go back
to
and that
was the
monk
who came
to stay
with us
when we
first started
about three
months
I think
it was
when he
came to
stay
with us
at
serpentine
he didn't
see any
king
cobras
there
instead
he saw
a surprise
visit
from
the
mayor
of our
local
council
the
shire
president
clem
kentish
and
honestly
the
mayor
kentish
he was
extremely
wide
in the
middle
ok
it's
fat
and
he
much
more
honestly
and
he
was wearing
a jacket
and I
first saw
him
he only
had one
button
holding his
jacket
together
and even
that was
really
being
stretched
and so
at any
moment
that button
would just
pop off
and when
I saw
him
coming
Ajahn
Ganha
saw him
first
and Ajahn
Ganha
went straight
towards
the
mayor
and
laughing
he couldn't
speak
any
English
with his
face
smiling
Ajahn
Ganha
started
patting
the
mayor's
tummy
and I
thought
honestly
this is
my thought
oh my goodness
I wasn't
quick enough
to stop
Ajahn Ganha
that's the end
of our
building
projects
when this
is a
mayor
you can't
do that
you know
to an
important
person
who's
just
come on
business
to check
that you're
building
it
properly
what did
the
Kremkentish
do
he just
started
giggling
and giggling
and giggling
he loved
every moment
of that
we
honestly
we got our
permission
to build
that was
the main
hall
over there
he gave
us
permission
and he
became
a really
close
friend
so
first
and then
eventually
to his
I still
remember
his
daughter
Coralie
Coralie
Kentish
and then
when I
went to
his
funeral
you know
I had
to go
because
you know
we knew
the family
I was a
and we
went to
give me
a hug
she didn't
know she
was a
girl
our local
neighbor
and I
said you
can't
do
that
before I
finished
saying
that
she'd
already got
yes I
can
she said
and
she's
a
farmer's
daughter
she would
wrestle sheep
for a
living
I was an
easy target
sorry
but anyway
that was
she's a
really good
friend
as I
confessed
that I
didn't have
a choice
totally
totally
involuntary
but I
remember
just those
wonderful
occasions
Ajahn
Ganaha
had such
kindness
what about
do I
have any
stories like
that
of course
whether I
lost another
couple of
people
okay
my story
was in
Thailand
when there's
lots of
snakes
in Thailand
used to
do all
these meditations
once a week
on the moon
days
we would stay up
all night
meditating
so you do
get a bit
tired
after you
know
not sleeping
that night
but meditating
instead
so I
got up
just at
dawn
okay
the meditation
was finished
we just
go and
just have
a bit of
a wash
and then we go
and arms around
so I went out
into the
forest
and I
went out
there to
urinate
you know
I just
really needed
to
and it
was just
the first
light of
the day
so the
light
wasn't very
strong
but you could
see where
you were
going
so you
know
that
the
ancient
way to
urinate
you squat
down
you don't
stand up
to urinate
you squat
down
and you urinate
squatting down
you've probably
seen that
in Thailand
and maybe
in Sri Lanka
is that the way
they urinate
in Sri Lanka
squatting down
you meant
to stand up
you meant
to stand up
okay
what about
the monks
yeah
yeah
no because
as a monk
we squat
down
so anyway
I squatted
down
and
I just
noticed in
the first
light of
day
that where
I was
urinating
on
honestly
I thought
it was
a stick
but when
that stick
started
moving
I thought
oh my
goodness
this is
because I was
squatting down
it was only
an inch
or an inch
and a half
away from
the most
sensitive part
of my
anatomy
monks have
those as
well
like any
men do
and straight
away I thought
oh my goodness
this is
dangerous
so what did
I do
nothing
and
that stick
was really
a snake
a very
venomous
snake
allowed me
to urinate
all over
it
it didn't
bite me
at all
why
because
you know
you've
probably
seen
we do
that tradition
of holy
water
we sprinkle
it on
people
I
honestly
I thought
that's
why
that
snake
didn't bite
me
imagine how
fortunate
that snake
had been
getting the
real holy
water
I mean
the real
stuff
not just
the ordinary
fake
water
the real
stuff
from a
good monk
just come
out of
meditation
wow
that was
such a
lucky
snake
I wouldn't
try that
if I was
you
so
those are
some of
the
enjoyable
things
you see
which take
away all
your fear
of life
what Ajahn Chah
did
one of the
other things
Ajahn Chah
did with
holy water
and this
was one
I saw
myself
and I
thought
you know
sometimes
the monks
have to be
a bit more
careful
because sometimes
they take
risks
which may
be just
one risk
too many
he would
never make
holy water
for people
very rarely
but once
in Thailand
I was
there
just around
Ajahn Chah's
hut
and
a major
general
came to
see
you know
Ponek
as a
major
generals
and in
those countries
the military
have
enormous
power
so he
came up
and he
paid
respect
all his
off-siders
just ordinary
generals
were there
as well
and
he said
can I
have a
blessing
please
can I
have some
understand
Ajahn Chah's
speech by
that time
he said
I don't
have any
and he
said oh
please
now these
are major
generals
in the Thai
army
you're not
supposed to
mess around
with those
at all
so he
said okay
come here
that's why
Ajahn Chah
was sitting
at my
mouth
bend over
and he
spat all his
saliva
on the
major
generals
head
and I
couldn't
believe what
he was
doing
he can't
do that
he'd
gone too
far
for once
Ajahn Chah
had gone
way too
far
and then
Ajahn Chah
took his
hand
and started
rubbing it
and he
got away
with it
so I
don't have
any holy
water
here
but if
anyone
wants
any
I kind
of grew
up with
that sense
of humor
it's really
good fun
and
it was
just
teaching
me
just
know
how
to have
a bit
of fun
and games
and these
are the
things which
I always
remembered
just know
how to be
kind
and have
some joy
and fun
as you're
a monk
you don't
have to be
afraid of
anything
and all
these great
monks
they would
do stuff
like that
and I
enjoyed
it immensely
and I
sometimes
think
how
healthy
I've
been
for so
many
years
it's not
bad
for a
75 year
old
is it
would you
reckon
I tell
silly
stories
yeah
I admit
to that
so anyway
thank you
all for
listening
now
any
comments
or questions
comments
or questions
no
remember
this is
the last
talk
I'll
give
here
for a
while
so that
when I
come back
here
after the
range
retreat
another
three or
four
months
then
hopefully
you won't
remember
those jokes
any more
so I can
tell
good
hmm
good
evening
Ajahn Brahm
hmm
my
question
is just
about
how
you
bring
that
perspective
of
humour
to
your
problems
so
in
your
day
when
you're
going
through
a
catastrophe
or
something
is
going
on
that's
stressing
you out
just
bringing
that
sense
of
humour
and
joy
and
that
perspective
to
those
sort
of
problems
that
seem
big
okay
a good
example
maybe
just trying
to think
of a
big
catastrophe
many many
years ago
you may
remember
that we
had a
big
bush fire
at
Serpentine
a major
bush fire
it was
I remember
the
temperature
that
that afternoon
at the
day
it was
the highest
temperature
ever recorded
in that
part
of
Western
Australia
46.2
degrees
that
was
pretty
hot
and so
we knew
that we were
in danger
there's
a big
possibility
of a
bush fire
we were
prepared
for it
in the
late in
the afternoon
that we
were told
the only
thing to
do was
evacuate
and I
was the
head monk
at the
time
Ajahn
Chakra
was down
south
somewhere
and so
okay
let's
get all
the cars
together
in front
of the
main
hall
and instead
of leading
away
with all
of the
cars
locked
for safety
I said
look we
need to
get in
there quickly
leave all
of the
doors open
so we
can get in
there quickly
and facing
away
from the
hall
so eventually
they moved
everything
to the
right
position
and then
the next
thing
one of the
fire officers
came into
the hall
and he
was the
guy who
ordered us
evacuate
now
because the
trees were
exploding
that's
what happens
in a
major
bushfire
though the
the oil
in
those
gums
they
just
evaporate
and cause
a
huge
fuel
around
the
wood
and when
that gets
a spark
they go
boom
incredibly
powerful
explosions
when that
started
happening
we were
ordered
get out
now
so
we got
in the
cars
I made
sure
that everyone
was there
there's always
someone who's
not there
one of our
visitors
honestly
don't ask
me why
he decided
to change
his trousers
at the last
minute
where
is he
gone
and then
he came
out just
putting on
his trousers
half naked
he never
explained
why
that's
what
happened
we
evacuated
and so
we went
down
and reported
at the
front
where
the
muster
point
was
we said
we had
to
evacuate
and then
we spent
the night
in a
local
farmers
shearers
shed
we get
some
kind
of
figures
as far
as the
the head
bushfire
controller
knew
I was
a senior
monk
so he
took me
up to
see
Bodhinyana
monastery
and I
thought
when you
see it
trees
exploding
that there
was no
chance
of that
would survive
when I
went up
the hill
you could
see
right
across
the land
all
the
trees
had lost
their leaves
there was nothing
greenery
there at
all
but all
the buildings
survived
all of
them
which was
unbelievable
you could
see
you know
all of
the
cooties
and the
main
hall
so
wow
this
was
amazing
you have
a good
attitude
you never
know
what
might
happen
how
could
that
really
occur
the only
thing
which I
can ever
say
please
excuse
me
this
is
me
this is
heavenly
beings
something
was protecting
us
otherwise
it shouldn't
be there
even the
next day
the chief
fire officer
from the
city of
Perth
came to
investigate
and when
he came
I took
him around
one of the
A-frame
cooties
and he
looked
underneath
it
around it
all over it
and then
he just
looked at me
and said
Ajahn Brahm
this
should
not
be
here
he didn't
understand
why it
survived
remember
that's what
he said
surprised
even
him
huge
fire
to this
day
it is
the
second
most
about
two or
three weeks
later it
was a
hotter
day
we'd
already had
our fire
the temperature
has never
got that
hot
again
it's
pretty
hot
46 degrees
so
anyway
we
survived
how
come
honestly
you
can't
say
it's
because of
our hard
work or
anything
it's
like kind
of not
just like
the other
beings
looking after
us
go on
you have
a question
on the
so that's
what happens
and of
course
while that
was happening
we had
a good
time
you go on
Ajahn Brahm
just now
you said
when you were
young in
Thailand
you got
sick
and Ajahn
Chah visited
you and
he said
that you're
either going
to live
or die
but your
sickness is
not going
to last
so the
thing is
sorry I
just comment
first
you see
when you
are sick
the typhus
the germs
or the
virus
so the
thing is
it's also
impermanent
the whole
thing is
impermanent
and then
if you
are strong
in mind
in that case
you have
a strong
mind
you use
and your
body is
still strong
so you
use that
meditation
to fight
it off
we don't
fight
so what
you do
you put
on
like a
positive
things
to overcome
isn't it
it is a
peace
with everything
so peace
the whole
body vanishes
so the
mind
is very
powerful
the mind
can heal
or it
can even
heal you
so whenever
we are not
well
we have
to use
that positive
mind
if you
know what
the positive
mind is
you don't
use the
positive mind
to fight
just to be
incredibly
peaceful
and still
still
yeah
you know
I've
said that
to you
before
that if
you get
into a
really deep
meditation
honestly
nothing
can harm
you
I'm not
just saying this
a good
example
of that
in about
a week's
time
at Jhana Grove
Meditation
Retreat Center
next to
the monastery
we have
a group
of people
from Hong Kong
and from
Indonesia
doing a
nine day
meditation
retreat
or seven day
meditation
retreat
last year
one of those
ladies
I hope she's
coming again
when it
came to
the last
day of
the retreat
in the
middle of
the night
she went
to one
of the
stupas
sat
on the
stupa
all night
and in
the early
morning
when the
sun
came up
she was
still
sitting
there
and
Mandela
the person
who was
looking after
that group
told her
please come
out now
we're going
to the
monastery
to do
this entry
to the
rain
stay
and afterwards
we have
to go
to the
airport
she didn't
respond
she was
like a
dead
person
still
sitting
so that's
when she
came and
saw me
told me
what was
occurring
oh great
I said
no just
go back
over there
and don't
say
anything
with force
say it
with
kindness
don't
tell her
she has
to get
up
tell her
very gently
Ajahn Brahm
invites you
to please
come over
now in
the monastery
for the
retreat
for the
end of
the rains
beginning of
the rains
ceremony
and Della
told me
she did
that
but this
girl never
responded
I said
no wait
you're not
in
the normal
type of
mind
you've got
to allow
that instruction
to get
in
and to
actually
to get
her out
of the
meditation
so about
15 minutes
later she
turned up
and she
saw me
sitting in
the main
hall
and said
you asked
me to
come over
here
that was
the
instruction
but kindly
and I
said yes
do you
want any
breakfast
she said
no
I just
want to
carry on
sitting
yeah
go sit
over there
and she
carried on
sitting
meditation
for a
bit
longer
that's
what
happens
when a
person
gets
into
deep
meditation
if you
want to
get
them
out
you sit
there
sit
it's
a
friend
and you
and you
sit
down
and
sit
down
and
you
down
and
sit
down
and
sit
down
and
come here, they ask, Eddie how are you? I say, oh, I'm fine, you think, okay, very well.
I always think positive. So what do you think Ajahn, you have to put in more positive parts?
Yes, of course. You have a choice. So use that choice. Never to get depressed or upset.
Look, you know, this is the last talk I'll give here for quite a long time. No more silly
jokes. No more going over time. How do you feel? Please enjoy. And please, if you need
to hear another talk, go to a monastery or just go online and get some of the old talks.
And play those. There's so much talks I've been given. I've been a monk 52 years now.
How many talks do you think I've given in 52 years? Please, I apologize if I tell old
jokes again, because you've heard all the huge amounts of other jokes many times already.
There's only a certain amount of jokes anybody has. Is that true? Thank you for appreciating.
But anyway, I still tell them, because I love them.
Because I enjoy telling them. So anyhow, anybody else has something to say?
Yes.
Yeah. Oh, really? What's in it?
It's...
I know what's in it. I know what's inside of it.
What's?
My head. Well, that's a really comfortable one.
It's very nice.
Yeah, it is. It is nice.
Oh, nice.
Yeah. Thank you. Yeah, I'll wear that. It's really nice being a monk. You don't have to
go shopping. Shopping comes to you. Thank you. Anything else anyone wants to say?
In your absence, the monks, we can come here, Ajahn Brahm, here in the big hall here.
And...
It's being renovated.
The prayers, all well, even a small hall. The devas can help us too, Ajahn Brahm.
Oh, yeah.
The power of the mind when you speak, to the shine, all these things.
Yeah, sure.
The power.
Yeah, I agree. But anyway, all that...
Thank you anyway.
Being closed off. When are we closing it off? I've got some ones online. Okay, let's quickly.
There we go. First question, what does freedom from desire mean? Not what it means, how it
feels. How it feels means you're not in the prison anymore. You're not controlled by these
thoughts, I want this, I need that. If monks build monasteries, is that desire? No way.
Because what can you do with building monasteries? You've got monastery here, monastery there.
You've got so many monasteries.
And even...
Oh, she's not here. Even sometimes people say, oh, I think we need to make your monastery
better by changing the carpet in your rooms. No, why? I say no to many things. Is that
fair? Is that a good idea?
I still remember Ajahn Chah's bedroom. His bedroom, there was just a grass mat, a wooden
pillow.
And that's about it. I couldn't believe it. It brought tears to my eyes, you know, how
he was really famous, being supported by the Queen of Thailand and many other really wealthy
people. And he didn't have anything. There's something about that inspired me.
Dear Ajahn Brahm, I left a high-control religion. Was that ours? Am I a high-controller?
But my mind still treats doubt as danger. I constantly chase certainty and reassurance.
How do you build a peaceful spiritual life on uncertain ground?
Oh, I love uncertainty.
Even...
What's uncertain grounds these days?
Unlike the ocean.
Do you like going surfing in the ocean?
How many of you are like, only uncertain, always uncertain?
Always moving surface of water.
Sometimes you know it's uncertain.
But you make these beautiful choices.
You don't assume what's not there.
And you have a wonderful life.
It's not high control.
High control is like high stress.
So I prefer uncertainty.
Honestly, living in a forest, is that uncertain?
I don't even know what I'm going to have for breakfast tomorrow morning.
Just trust a couple of you will please come.
Actually, a couple is more than a couple.
There's always heaps of you come.
Even for lunch as well.
Venerable Ajahn, within the context of anatta, what is actually happening right now?
This speaking, this listening, this understanding?
It's just happening.
But it's not yours.
You can't control it.
Should I talk about something else?
No, I just open my mouth and see what comes out.
So that's called anatta.
Not controlling.
Honestly, I thought when I came in here,
just what should I give a talk on this evening?
What did I give a talk on?
I haven't got a clue, I just talk.
Anyway.
Hello Ajahn Brahm.
How to overcome emotional eating.
Thank you.
It's Mehta from India.
Emotional eating?
You mean you eat your emotions?
No.
What does it mean?
Or is it just because you eat because you feel that,
not because you're hungry,
it's something to do?
Is that what emotional eating means?
Oh, okay.
Thanks for letting me know that.
I don't do that.
I just eat when I'm supposed to,
morning and lunch, and that's it.
If I get upset in the evening,
oh, I swear I really suffer.
Oh, that's really hard.
Of course I don't.
So, how to overcome emotional eating.
Thank you Mehta.
Just look after your emotions.
Be at peace,
rather than always worried about what time it is.
Can't you be at peace?
Sorry, but it's just,
I live as a monk.
It's just a long time since
you've even thought of doing emotional eating.
Often I eat too much.
I admit that.
Because sometimes I feel I have to.
Because always,
when I eat, people are looking at me.
And I feel guilty.
When you bring some food to me and I don't eat it.
I do, honestly.
And some of the reason why I get fat
is not because, you know, I want to eat.
It's because now you are looking at me
and I feel I should be eating something.
Do you feel that as well?
And sometimes I eat things I shouldn't eat.
And I know that I'd rather not eat it
if you're looking at me and just,
well, okay.
Honestly, not because I like it,
because, you know, it's just,
it's all kind of,
one thing I really don't like,
doing is wasting things.
So if it's gone in my bowl somehow or other,
and it's not always me,
I don't always put things in the bowl.
Sometimes people put things in the bowl for me.
And then I just,
I try to tell you, that's enough.
And you say, oh, just a bit more.
A bit more and a bit more and a bit more and a bit more.
Honestly.
So anyway, that's it.
Finished.
You want to go?
Why?
This is the last talk for a long time.
No?
Okay, yeah, we'll finish then.
Please excuse me.
I have to take the hat off when I bow.
But I'll put it on again afterwards.
That's okay?