Wisdom and Stupidity | Ajahn Brahm | 04-02-2011

Ajahn Brahm offers a deep explanation on the meaning of wisdom in Buddhism. Ajahn explains how wisdom is something you get through investigating, contemplating and looking very deeply into the nature of yourself, relationships and into life and is not something you can get from reading a book or listening to a talk. Ajahn emphasises that Buddhism doesn’t tell you what to believe, but how to find out for yourself. In other words 99% of Buddhism is teaching you how to find out the truth for yourself.
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[@rebeccagill681]

I love listening to Ajahn Brahm. I am trying to learn as much as I can on Buddhism and he has giving me hope. I'm still trying to find a Temple where I live to learn more. But growing up a southern Baptist and feeling guilt all my life and being told as a little girl I would go to hell for everything. I have found Buddhism is what I have always looked for....Peace, Love and Compassion to everyone :)

[@karunabro6061]

peace & love to you too

[@amanda2276]

Oh same here!

[@guyneo]

Once again. Very grateful for the talk. I have no idea on the impact on my life yet. But based on previous experience, I know that I will gained some useful insights after repetitive listening. Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

[@Sumazndoode]

Ajahn Brahm should be on TED!

[@milagroswest8607]

Wise words we need to apply in our lives. Empty one's self to add more to our wisdom and life.

[@amanda2276]

So true!!

[@gilliantan1012]

I appreciate your talk very much. To keep this message short & simple, this talk helped me sleep when I was up awake at 12:00 am. I slept 1 hour later after the talk ended, thanks to your talk. I hope you continue to make new ones. Keep doing what you’re great at,have no ego!

[@mitchellpoulsen2537]

Amazing ! To see a Seer in my life time that is equal to the ancient Master's teachings. Blessed Be

[@meloneypalihakkara10]

A great talk. Thank you Ajahn

[@peacelovemidgets]

Don't worry, Ajahn Brahm. I pause the video ever so often to google things you say and learn more. You don't tell me what to believe, you guide me on what to google. Cheers!

[@amanda2276]

Always refreshing to hear your talks Ajahn Brahm!

[@symphony1045]

Seelavantham Gunawantham Punyakkettham Anuttharam Dulabena Mayaladdham Buddha Puttham Nama Maham 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 I Pay my homage to you respectful Swaminwahansa!! Please bless my mother A.Kumari.M.Gunawardhana

[@jamesblack3429]

Keep up the good work my friend. I've learned so much from you and try to apply your teachings to my life. Blessings

[@sanja12]

CARING is true wisdom, not how much you know..thank you

[@TheApatheticGuy]

@nobreakpeter163978 He was born in England, but now resides in Bodhinyana Monastery in Australia.

[@karunabro6061]

excellent as always Ajahn

[@thomaser82]

Thanks for the great talk!

[@julietagor7886]

Very refreshing God bless

[@MarkIsJustKidding]

Thank you very much

[@vegetariankitchenmagicaljo4948]

Please press the like button if you enjoy the talk to support BSWA.

[@thudo5587]

Thanks for posting

[@tbalsillie]

Wonderful; and very mindful food for thought

[@sharon4719]

Agreed to so many of what was said in this video because I have gained soo much wisdom from my choices and actions

[@yama2606]

May All Beings be happy.

[@quetzalcoatl2rt]

I love!Ajahn's personal story at 21:25

[@Chargehasbeenset]

Thank you

[@jesshurun]

Thank You For This.

[@heavydiesel]

Thankyou so much, especially the bit about pets and vets.

[@bgoodfella7413]

Great Dharma Talk! There was much wisdom gained here (and stupidity lost!)

[@beaterfred]

I love how you handled that. I was getting annoyed reading the previous comment, then I saw yours and it just made me smile. Anger disappeared. :)

[@jayejayeee]

love the video really good

[@JohnLegends1]

Sometimes the gifts we get are a curse too, I can relate to that. Thank you so much :)

[@LWT1331]

That golf joke had me rolling on the floor.

[@amanda2276]

That’s so true about not pointing the feet towards Buddha, it’s the same in Sri Lankan temples/monasteries! They see it as disrespectful and also to sit with your back turned towards Buddha is seen as disrespectful.

[@shyamanissanka2416]

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@BipolarBowler]

People throw away what they could have by insisting on perfection, which they cannot have, and looking for it where they will never find it. Edith Schaeffer

[@jayejayeee]

very interesting thanks

[@nitinandkharat871]

it's nice .truth should always open to reexamination.thanks for this talk

[@garouHH]

Did you notice the cat behind the water bottles on the left?

[@yaiyasmin]

@74hisway Well, you don't have to accept it if it doesn't make sense to you. Don't have to believe it just because he says so, that's a point he made, research for yourself and come to a conclusion based on your observations.

[@balrogtheundefeated]

"Avoid expressing fury, often being smiley." This is what i heard. Additionally, there's a downside for being good looking/beautiful, you will get all the nice attention and treatment causing yourself to overlook the true face of life therefore you won't likely realize the meaning of the first noble truth and fail to practice Buddhism at all. However don't take it literally because the precision of karmic laws and causes are not to be determined easily.

[@sherryfortune]

Diggin' the Brahm!

[@user-gd2oi2eo7z]

There is no evil but suffering and cause of suffering. There's wrong view, wrong thoughts, wrong intention, wrong speech, wrong conduct, wrong way of making a living, wrong efforts, wrong mindfulness, and wrong release. They could be changed by following the right path . So there's no thing like an evil.

[@JoshuaGetzelsKrieble]

i think buddhist emptiness is different from utter nothingness. they believe when you empty a mind you are left with pure awareness/mind essence, the experience of which causes intense awareness rather than vegetation. this often inspires feelings of bliss, which is, of course, appealing to anybody. for the record i don't think monks like brahm are aiming for emptiness at all times, but you're right that many do.

[@annagoebiowska229]

Super

[@PhoenixProdLLC]

I want to direct a movie on Buddhism, set in the future. Not that far out" but towards the end of the 21sr C and it's survived and in fact many monks and nuns firmed their own science schools surgeon three monasteries. Some.monks/nuns were even trans, they had no special robe color and just slept in their own kind of dorm. But this 21st Century monasteey was acting as both university for Buddhism , scholarly work, but also Scientific disciplines as well Such that it could turn out some pretty cool R&D projects and patents, to help be self sustaining, and many students/faculty/staff teachers made up from lat members of the sanghe. Language courses offered that expedited translation etcetc....really quite the next phase. No competitive sports teams. You can play frisbee, bicycle, hackey sack, longboard, pay guitar in the park but not near the beautiful gardens and forests dedicated to The Meditators, a group only open to the monks and nuns and those they'd send forth into Field Research for the university. And this is where our protagonist and antagonist meet and race against the clock. But! with a year to go the story can easily be broken up into a trilogy and there ya go (cue dramatic music) 😁😝😊🙏🙋...I can write and direct it no prob,but I'm going to need a casting director once the scripts got...and Ajahn Brahm Anna Brahmali approved...make sure"

[@jimibeckert]

You could see someone's wisdom by who they think the most important person is.

[@josephlandrut4154]

When we reincarnate, we become the conscious awareness of an unborn baby and a member of society, based on becoming someone different to who we were in our previous life. This means, reincarnation represent equality, which ensures we play many different part in the theater of life.

[@markbrad123]

People should know the difference between Courage and Stupidity. Sometimes they think there conquering their fears when they should listen to their gut or intelligence. Courage is just something that is really necessary despite fear -- e.g donating a part of your liver to a sick relative; it is not superfluous stupid dares.

[@pooska4220]

what about the mother that says "see kido I should pick up the heavy glass stuff you can help with the bread" it's about how we see the same event and what we do with it. we can be nagative or positve the choice is ours and it takes work and practice to be positive

[@Yora21]

Essentially yes, but it's more complicated. Many things are horrible, cruel, and have to be prevented. However it is assumed that people do such things not because they really think that it is okay for them to do. There are reasons for their actions, which very often is fear pf what whould happen to them if they don't take action. And they would fear to admit their mistake. But if you could take away their fear and get them to think clearly, they would see it was wrong.

[@PokeMellowM]

hahahah even JB is mentioned in buddhism jajaja, thx for the enlightening, now let's work hard to get this wisdom ^^

[@user-gd2oi2eo7z]

Buddhism is about dependent origination. So stupid as stupidity does under the moment of ignorance; but stupidity disappears when the moment of wisdom appears. That's why we say there's no evil in the sense of being evil as its nature as its characteristics as its self. That is why enlightenment could happen to any one if you follow the path

[@StarSpawn06]

"The religion derives from Sumerian times, at it's roots guess what. They still had sex, etc... It's about balancing your life... " that's the kind of new age comment I tended to make many years ago, when I had no idea what particular religions were ACTUALLY about.

[@oliverthered]

@MrMbodhi 1: if you where actual or objective, 2: if you read or understood what I said (hint there's an error in it) in short it was your understanding that was hard to understand. are you and objective person or an actual person? oneself, selfish, their-self, maya the illusion of self. are you and actual person or an objective person?

[@Jnicolajsen]

why Is there K1 Fighting suggestion in related video's lol :D

[@michaeltai95]

despite how badly he put the message across, I would actually recommend Ekchart Tolle - he speaks just as slowly as Brahm so the change shouldn't seem to big ;)

[@ravenheartwraith]

@Ashitanoyuki do you mean " Mara"? I've never heard of the demon sara, and even so Mara is a representation of the fight within ourselves, not a literal satanic figure. Granted there are some sects of Buddhism that are much more " religious" then others. This is one of the main reasons why I like Theravada and Theravada monks like Ajahn Brahm.

[@Dhad91]

@Kosta88Pop That's Tibetan Buddhism that has the Dalai Lama.

[@kiran1050]

bhuddha will runaway hearing this.

[@utubepunk]

@MrWrongevolution Probably has something to do with not causing suffering to other living beings.

[@juancarlossoteldogonzalez3649]

por favor subtitulos en español

[@JohnLegends1]

So out of curiosity,what is the Karmic reason for being beautiful in the next life?

[@74hisway]

I have a hard time accepting that there is no evil.......what about people who traffic child in the sex slave for example? There is such darkness in the world sometimes.

[@beaterfred]

@Speiraz LOL! random! Meow to you too! :)

[@nenuRK]

As Ajahn Brahm says don't follow him blindly... ask him questions? why does he think committing suicide is a way to show that you care? isn't it the person's inability to let go and negative thinking.. who decides that 84 yrs long enough that it's okay to commit suicide?

[@worzi3]

in regard to the mans age at death, i believe it was he who decided it was long enough, as should be every humans right

[@TerrierBram]

O really, well I'm not a native in English. However, I read none capitals just as well.

[@ButterflyLovesDancin]

What is said about imperfection made me think of scientific study on facial features. If perfect, the face looks plain... imperfections cause beauty.

[@kritisrivastava9393]

16/1/23.

[@naegling3]

@foragreatseal sounds like you got an axe to grind fo sho

[@JoshuaGetzelsKrieble]

i thought he was kind of rude as well, but i think he just has an irreverent sense of humor. my understanding is he is genuinely critical of hierarchy and conformity in religion, but respects that the core of any religion is (potentially) separate from these things for individuals.

[@lordbyron3603]

Ajahn Brahm asks "who's the hottest girl these days", and then adds, "the hottest bimbo?", LMAO...

[@naegling3]

@foragreatseal and a potential buddha

[@shiroinozomi]

I should add the story a part like this: And I, as the customer standing outside watching the scene, will say: "Ennzenn mother is just an irresponsible mother when blaming the child action for natural cause, without make the child realize how wrong his/her action is." I just realized you're a troll/ or a neglective person who is trolling around buddhist channel and give some provoking comments. So, as a sayings said, could you please "swim away so that the river flow can be cleaner?"

[@MoonBurgle]

It's sort of like you are defragmenting your mind.

[@slaweku]

be empty? erase all the software that you have in your brain, and you will be a body, without anything to do, think, or whatever, be empty, loos all your knowledge, words, and your wisdom, and you will be like a vegetable..... So, what is it about that emptiness, that is so appealing for so many buddhist monks?

[@slaweku]

is it right when a highly acclaimed buddhist monk wants to make other religions/believers looking stupid. Is Buddhist philosophy about loving, kindness etc...?

[@user-gd2oi2eo7z]

To be honest, there's right view and wrong view in Buddha's teaching. To make it clear about what is right what is wrong is out of compassion of Buddha so that ppl don't follow wrong views. Wrong views could lead to very bad consequences. Buddha point out the right path of wisdom. If Religion made by human is under wrong views, hi matter how much the believers believe in it , it leads to suffering and miserable consequences. A compassionate person should point it out, just a mom who lives her children would correct the children's wrong idea

[@pragzter]

i used a punching bag. it works. trust me. :)

[@user0987609876]

Lol, "Buddhism derives from Sumerian times". What are you high on, and can I have some? Also, if listening to Eckhart Tolle caused you to be this way, I'll stick with Ajahn Brahm, thanks.

[@wowwowwow185]

I think it would be better to say that's a human thing to do !

[@drav1dan]

@yukiko1982: Criticizing teachings without understanding them is not wise. The concept of god arises from ego & confused thinking. Religions with god shut the minds of people in dogmas & so are harmful. God is an artificial notion created because of ego, so it cannot help people go beyond ego & reach full enlightenment. In such religions, most people go "I have worshipped my god who loves me, so I am perfect" & stop all further progress - not much "cultivation of good" there, is it?

[@Agomongo1235]

@yukiko1982 That doesn't make any sense "Once all the notions are throw(n) away, there is no God and there is no Buddha" that doesn't make any sense. Buddha is completely opposite the of God! Buddha says he is not God. So boviousley Buddhism would still be living. Even if God wasn't there.

[@oliverthered]

@MrMbodhi Buddhism teaches that evil is objective not actual. Are you an objective person or an actual person? Buddha also taught that you should explain things in a colloquial manner, otherwise other people would have great difficulty in interpreting them by their-self. On the other side would be objectivism, that people are actual not objective.

[@FrankJohnLeeukulele]

What about the mentally disabled?

[@marlindawey4624]

So we people got moments of stupidity and moments of wisdom, and you?

[@chanaka20002000]

I'm sure Eckhart Tolle said go and call other religions wrong and also call Ven. Ajahn Brahm a fat monk. Everyone thinks they are right.

[@nicky0000011]

Wisdom and Stupidity - rather sums up the comments on this page.

[@kalyanijayawardena4930]

Ajahn Brahma,Please do not get offended,but I would like to clarify one thing.Your sermons are very interesting with the stories & jokes.But does not these jokes belong to "Samprap-plapa" .Meaningless words one of the sins which we do with words.Please i ask your forgiveness if I am wrong.

[@adamcylee]

If that is the case, the sutta must be wrong or your interpretation is incorrect

[@lordbyron3603]

What's meaningless words? What is sin? There's no "sin" in Buddhism. Ask yourself the same question and you'll come up with the answer.

[@vajiramalingunawardena3355]

Kalyani Jayawardena Dear Kalyani, What decides sampraplalapa or not is the intention behind words. Ajahn Brahmas stories are to guide people towards eight fold path. Therefore they are not samprapalapa. please correct me if I am wrong. Vajira Gunawardena

[@lordbyron3603]

auty howard To kill and be killed is a part of this existence. It cannot be separated. Tsunamis, Earhquakes, and volcanic eruptions kills billions of sentient beings as well as wars between human kind (whether between two persons or between countries). To look at this as "wrong or right" is like looking through a microscope . It's like the left hand saying to the right that it ought to be left and not exist. And vice versa.

[@blackbeagle7315]

Hello, Samphapalapa refers to frivolous talk right? In this case, Ajahn Brahm is cracking jokes and giving light hearted talk not for the intention of letting us become distressed but to arouse feelings of joy and compassion. There is this aura of peace and calm about him that's so palpable :)) The intention of talking is of higher importance than the content, I guess.

[@mayhemsci]

@garouHH looks like a tissue box, with a tissue hanging out and fluttering in the wind. that's all.

[@ImUpsetThatYouStoleMyUsername]

There is ABSOLUTELY the concept of good and evil in Buddhism. While it may be tempered in light of understanding the ignorance or delusion underlying said evil, to imply that there is no concept of evil, in that there are no evil gods or spirits in any sect in buddhism, is SO GROSSLY FALSE it is ASTOUNDING that he can even say this

[@worzi3]

Evil only exists if you acknowledge it.

[@user-gd2oi2eo7z]

All is about the motivation and conducts. A being could be nice to friends and family but be bad so others , or nice to the same religion but not other religions and so on. That's Buddhism practice to get rid of evil thoughts, evil motivation and evil conduct that is the reason if suffering from being

[@user-gd2oi2eo7z]

There is no evil but suffering and cause of suffering

[@1001orpheus]

Justin Bieber. LOL. Those Singaporeans...

[@shiroinozomi]

It's funny and ridiculous to hear someone like you who even doesn't know how to put the grammar properly argues about this matter. Someone drops something and this is "gravity" gravity my feet. As I said. If you don't like this channel, just flow away, troller.