Slo Mo: A Podcast with Mo Gawdat

Ajahn Brahm - The Most Important Person in Your Life is Right in Front of You

February 13, 2021 Mo Gawdat and Ajahn Brahm Episode 89
Slo Mo: A Podcast with Mo Gawdat
Ajahn Brahm - The Most Important Person in Your Life is Right in Front of You
Show Notes

Today’s guest is the wonderful Ajahn Brahm, a Theravada Buddhist monk and a brilliant teacher. In fact, Ajahn is the first guest my producer insisted on meeting and introducing to his girlfriend, too.

Ajahn Brahm grew up in London and earned a degree in Theoretical Physics from Cambridge University. Disillusioned with the world of academia, he became a monk in 1974 training in the jungles of Thailand under meditation master Ajahn Chah. He is today a revered spiritual teacher and guide, and is abbot of the largest Buddhist monastery in the Southern Hemisphere.

He is the author of Opening the Door Of Your Heart, Mindfulness Bliss and Beyond, The Art of Disappearing, and Don’t Worry Be Grumpy.

Despite drawing criticism and controversy, he has courageously spoken out publicly on numerous occasions about the harm done by homophobia, and has been strongly supportive of gay marriage, the plight of asylum seekers, and gender equality in religion.

His public teachings regularly attract thousands to his inventive and insightful talks, which are heard by millions of people online. Despite this status, he still lives simply in a small hut in the forest, has no money or bank account, and enjoys nothing more than a cup of tea and sitting in meditation.

Listen as we discuss:

  • Why are the best teachers also the most humble?
  • What you see in another person is what they'll show you back.
  • Why Ajahn asserted his right to bow to a statue of Jesus Christ
  • Any place you don't want to be is a prison, but real prison can be a retreat.
  • How COVID is curing the problem of tiredness and being out of time.
  • What is the mind? And the almost perfect answer of a 6 year old.
  • The nature of objective reality.
  • When you experience silence, don't give it a name.
  • What is wisdom? It's what brings you to peace.
  • How do you inspire people to meditate? Be still.
  • The blind are leading the blind.
  • Why are we here?
  • Mistakes should not be stigmatized.
  • Who is the most important person in your life?
  • What's the most important time?
  • What's the most important action?
  • The metaphor of the concert and why I clap for Ali's performance

Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
Twitter: @mgawdat
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat

Connect with Ajahn Brahm on YouTube , the Buddhist Society of Western Australia's

YouTube: @mogawdatofficial
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
X: @mgawdat
Website: mogawdat.com

Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy