Genius Advice from a Laughing Monk!

A chat with Ajahn Brahm by Nipuna Kumbalathara

So I finally met him, for some reason I was wearing a white T-shirt with a Kiwi logo.
He asked me do you travel to New Zealand much? I responded I prefer Australia,
knowing that he is from Australia, but that I hate Tony Abbot, their premier,
especially given his recent call for climate change denying alliance of greedy
nations. Ajahn responds Well I have something in common with him, we are both
abbots, but fortunately thats where the similarity ends!
Now isnt it awesome to meet a highly revered Buddhist leader with a sense of
humor. Just the other day I heard on news that meditation and laughter create
similar brain waves, may be the great Ajahn intuitively knows this! Oh and may be,
thats why the laughing Buddha always laughs!
To be honest I was a bit nervous approaching him for in my head he was like
meeting a rock star, albeit an extremely quiet one. Its amazing just how his
presence and smile puts you at ease. Now I start firing my questions. How do we
approach Buddhism from a perspective of morality, mindfulness and scientific
inquiry, so that we as young people reap direct benefits applicable in daily life? I
tell him that I ask so because few years ago he inspired me to a path of mindfulness
and inquiry; as opposed to the typical teachings I was raised with, where faith and
ritual was prime. Back then I was at best, a reluctant follower.
Of ancient and now: benefits for daily life
He starts Buddhism changes and evolves with each generation. There are many
good monks in Sri Lanka I am sure, who are making the religion more relevant to
peoples lives. Quite characteristically of him, he moves on to a story Quite
recently a monk from Thailand moved to Indonesia, where there are millions of
Buddhists even though predominantly an Islamic country. He was asking in a survey
what type of Buddhism would you like to be taught, and they respond Just like
Ajahn Brahm teaches! teach things that people can use in their daily lives, which
extract these timeless Buddhist principles that benefit ordinary lives; marriage,
working, getting old, disasters, so that we can cope with these things with wisdom
and compassion, so that we can make our lives more meaningful. You can see that
even happening in places like Indonesia and Korea, where great monks make use of
original Buddhist teachings adopting it showing how it is useful in ordinary peoples
lives, in governments, in business to enhance every human beings life. So that
movements happening all over the world, I am sure it is happening in Sri Lanka too;
so some of those old traditions will have to give way, to the oldest tradition of all.
Some people say I am a modern monk, but I was telling venerable Mettavihari
earlier that I am one of the most traditional monks and I go back to the earliest
teachings of the Buddha. Not to culture, but to the traditional (practice) of the very

earliest times, where Buddha told stories and similes everybody understood
including little villagers. And, it will make their lives much easier, which is why
Buddhism became popular during his lifetime.
Be a Monk, Nun or a Leader
My second question is what is your advice to youth on how to proactively be a
catalyst to such a movement? Yes, he says, ones who are very intelligent should
become monks, and nuns. The response has of us to giggles! He continuous
giggling himself and be leaders! I tell him that even though I am unsure of my
intellect, the thought has crossed my mind, but am not yet convinced. Why not!
he asks, adding that Sri Lankans sometimes believe you had to be a monk of nun
out of coercion, but as a westerner Ajahn chose to! It was not because I couldnt
get a job; it was because i had a very good education at Cambridge. Yesterday in
Kuala Lumpur I was talking, the only son of the 2 nd richest man in Malaysia, a multi
billionaire, is now a monk. He gave up all his wealth, billions of dollars of inheritance
to live the holy life! And those are the things inspiring to the youngsters. Why would
someone who could be a playboy, get any girl he wanted, travel in his private jet,
never have to do a moments work in his whole life; why would he give that all up to
eat alms food, and live in a forest in a small hut? Why did he do that? Those are the
questions youth should ponder Something that Ajahn keeps saying is that the
bliss of meditation is much better than the bliss of sex! He adds that Buddha was a
prince too, who let it all go!
Of Men and Women; Buddhism calls for equity and progress
Buddhas female relatives, later all gave it all up too, to become Bikkhunis. And
thats one of the other things we should talk about. For now we have the
opportunity for equity. Equity and equality are different; earlier gives everyone the
same chance, were not saying everyones equal! They should all have equal
opportunities, were now reviving that with opportunity for women to ordain. That is
also going to inspire young people. The girls also want to be treated fairly, so why
not empower them just as young men are! That will lead Buddhism in to a new age
of prosperity, with teachings which will really get to peoples hearts, which in turn
would make a place like Sri Lanka a very wonderful place again! Just like Buddhas
time we could have Arahants both monks and nuns. The coming Esela remembers
Bhikkuni Sangamitta bringing the Bodhi tree to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has a great
association with Bikkhunis, its amazing we can bring that back again! Ajahn
emphasizes that both monks and nuns should be given equal prominence, and calls
for the young to lead the way.
Stand up and be counted!
Let the youth, with new ideas and fresh ways of looking and energy take Buddhism
back to its roots; with few ceremonies, many enlightened beings; few discourses but
more understanding of the teachings; equity irrespective of gender cast, race or

wealth, without judging a person. Those beautiful ideas of original Buddhism were
way ahead of their time! The young people are responsible for bringing them back
to regenerate the society and Buddhism!
I ask him Young people are more open minded and would relate easier with those
different to them. However society, cultural norms and collectivist passions seem to
hold them back. How should youth move beyond the barriers?
Ajahn Offer yourselves to be leaders. The amazing Pakistani lady Malala, who
risked her life being shot by Taliban, was extremely articulate and courageous to go
in front of thousands of cameras to give a speech asking for educational equity for
women throughout the world, not just in Pakistan. She is a youngster of 13 or 14,
and an example of what youth can achieve. Speak Up! Not with anger, but with
passion. Stand up for positions in government, and other positions. Move forward
our society. Its the young who have the ideas, young who have the enthusiasm,
and we always need those. Some Buddhist communities we have in Malaysia, they
say the get all the ideas from the young, and the uncles and aunties, the old people,
and they just give the money! When that comes together, the resources of the
elderly with the energy and enthusiasm of the young, thats a very successful
combination!
Humor for is a fantastic way to start and to end. I asked Ajahn How do we balance
the path of letting go, where you want to lose things with temptations or desires?
Ajahn answers you have to know the right time to let go. If youre on the back of a
motorcycle in the Colombo traffic, please dont let go. Please be attached as hard
as you can!
Oh and I ask him to pose for a photo, he offers would you like a selfie? Seriously
cool, no?
The article was published on the Sunday Observer Youth Magazine on June 22 nd
2014 under a s different title. Link:
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/magazine/2014/06/22/?
id=5&tday=/magazine/2014/06/22