Ajahn Brahmavamso, or Ajahn Brahm as his followers know him, was born in London in 1951. A scholarship took him to Cambridge University where he graduated with a Masters in Theoretical Physics. And then, he traded atoms and molecules for the abstraction of metaphysics and philosophy – an almost 180 degree swing from one end of the pendulum to the other. Does science and philosophy have more in common than we imagine?
Ajahn Brahm is all for empirical studies. He believes that, to arrive at a reasoned conclusion, everything must be tried and tested. And this is where he feels, science and metaphysics share a common platform. Before he ventured into Buddhism at 16, Ajahn Brahm had researched various religions by poring over many books and materials. The rationale of Buddhism struck a chord in him as he felt that the teaching of the religion encourages investigation and challenges indoctrination.
After his graduation, he became disillusioned because he felt that as much as scientists knew about the universe, they knew nothing about their own minds. So, he set off for Thailand to further his religious faith, and was ordained in Bangkok at 23. He went on to train for nine years in the forest meditation tradition under the late renowned meditation master, Ajahn Chah.
Secret to Happiness
Ajahn Brahm’s recently published book, Opening The Door Of Your Heart, is a collection of anecdotes of hope and love, forgiveness and happiness. The stories in each chapter recount his many experiences as a Buddhist monk over some 30 years, laced with his trademark wicked humour. With neither religious jargon nor a zealous promotion of Buddhism, each story contains some insight, which makes you pause to contemplate your place in life.
Like everything else, you have to work at being happy. During his recent visit to Singapore in August to launch his book as well as to lead a meditation retreat at Sentosa, a woman who was suffering from chronic depression approached Ajahn Brahm for a solution. His counsel was to use the two-finger trick. He demonstrated with both hands, placing the first from each hand at the ends of his lips and pushing the skin up. The result: A smile so wonky, it will bring on an inner smile. Such is Ajahn Brahm’s simple, but effective cheer-up remedy.
More nuggets of wisdom. “People have never been taught how to be happy. In school, we learn how to draw, how to count, how to play the guitar, etc. Happiness is mental energy, freedom in being content with whoever you are. Depression is how you react to life, and not the problems in life. Joy is celebrating what you have and stress is focusing on your own faults and those of others. If you crack your head, smile and it’ll hurt less.
“Opening The Door Of Your Heart is not about asking people to take up a religion, it’s about passing them a gift of happiness.
“This book can save you lots of money from visiting hospitals, lawyers and psychiatrists. Can you afford not to buy it?” he asked in jest.
Ajahn Brahm does not wear a watch. His minders regularly remind him of the activities ahead. When I asked if he worries about standing people up inadvertently, timekeepers notwithstanding, he said, “It would be a cause for worry only if I was afraid of what other people think of me. Why let others control how you feel?
“Be at peace with yourself”, he added. “When you make a mistake, laugh at yourself and the world will laugh with you.” He recounted an incident when a group of young men taunted him by waving a copy of Playboy magazine at him. He had simply laughed and soon saw the back of them when they failed to rile him. Did he catch a glimpse of Playboy’s saucy pictures in that brief encounter? Read the book to find out.
Conducting the six-day meditation retreat at what he calls, Club Med Sentosa has been a relaxing good time. Club Med? Yes, he guffaws, Club Med as in Club Meditation. Ms Angie Monksfield, a participant, says, “Ajahn Brahm is transforming our lives. We are more appreciative, have fewer complaints and have become, simply, happier people.”
I joined the concluding session of the retreat to experience Ajahn Brahm’s teachings first-hand. He implored participants to do an experiment in relation to compassion and kindness. A few people silently dabbed their eyes, visibly moved by his wise words.
Remember, “An act of kindness increases your self-esteem. It is what you think of yourself that matters, not what others think of you.”
Opening the Door of Your Heart (STP: 6468-5636) retails at $25.99 and is available at major bookstores.
