The following story was shared by Ajahn Brahm and it narrates a story about his teacher Ajahn Chah. Here’s the story.

You know, there are countless stories like this, but this is when you really started to realize Ajahn Chah was different. He just knew things—he could read minds. You had to be very careful what you were thinking when you were around him.

On this particular occasion, I was in the backseat of a car. Next to me was an American monk, a former Vietnam War helicopter pilot—a real tough guy. Beside him was a little novice named Gary, from Los Angeles. In the front passenger seat was Ajahn Chah himself, and the driver was taking us into town for some errand.

During the drive, Ajahn Chah turned around, looked straight at young Gary, and said, “You’re thinking of your girlfriend back in L.A.”

Poor Gary—he was instantly busted, caught red-handed and utterly embarrassed. His face gave him completely away. He was thinking of his old girlfriend in Los Angeles, and Ajahn Chah had seen right through him.

Then, with the most compassionate smile, Ajahn Chah said through the interpreter, “You know, that’s so painful. I think we can help you so you don’t feel so lonely, being all the way on the other side of the world and missing your girlfriend. Next time you write to her, ask her to send you something personal, so whenever you miss her, you can take it out to remind you of your love.”

Ajahn Chah said this with such a serious face that even the interpreter and I started wondering, “Is this allowable? Are they breaking the Vinaya [the monastic rules]?”

But Ajahn Chah was entirely unfazed: “Oh yeah, you know, we can do that out of kindness. Come on, welcome to the modern world.”

The novice immediately started brainstorming what he should ask for—something romantic, like a piece of her skirt scented with her perfume, or a lock of her hair. As they were discussing it, Ajahn Chah chimed in, “Oh no, none of that. Something a bit more personal.”

Whoa!

And then, when Ajahn Chah finished speaking, it took the poor interpreter about five minutes to pull himself together—he was simultaneously crying and laughing.

Ajahn Chah delivered the kicker: “I told you, when you write to your girlfriend in L.A., ask her to send a little bottle, about this big, of her shit! So whenever you miss your girlfriend, you can take a sip of that.”

“That’s my girlfriend back in L.A.” What’s the logic there? When you truly love someone, you love everything about them, my darling. Haha! That was classic Ajahn Chah.

He always viewed things in such a unique way. But it’s true, isn’t it? When you fall in love, you love everything about him or her. Really, everything.

Oh… well, maybe not quite everything.

Bodhi-Bowl commentary:

When I first heard this story, it caught me completely by surprise. My impression of Ajahn Chah was that of a strict forest monk who taught primarily through the suttas and meditation—I rarely heard tales of clairvoyance or supernatural abilities associated with him. This encounter actually reminded me of the Buddha’s famous lesson given to Nanda.

For some readers, such extraordinary tales might naturally spark doubt. Was it staged? Was it just a colorful anecdote spun by Ajahn Brahm?

In our modern world, a healthy dose of skepticism is wise—especially when scammers and tall tales are everywhere. However, too much skepticism can also result in us shutting ourselves off from the genuine mysteries and wonders of life.

I think a balanced approach is best. In this instance, it seems highly unlikely that everyone in that car was ganging up in an elaborate plot to fool Ajahn Brahm. It’s almost comical to imagine the Thai driver trying his absolute best to interpret, while Ajahn Chah effortlessly caught the junior monk’s private thoughts and responded right on cue. Imagine being in that young novice’s shoes: having your innermost, private thoughts exposed out of nowhere, inside a moving car. The shock alone would be enough to make you want to disappear!

Beyond the initial sense of wonder at a monk displaying psychic powers, a much more meaningful approach is to examine the deeper lessons unfolding beneath the humor.

1. Beauty Only Skin-Deep: Looking Past the Surface

To some readers, Ajahn Chah’s suggestion might sound crude or even offensive because it involves human waste. Yet in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, meditation used to overcome strong passion often relies on a detailed, unflinching analysis of the physical body’s unglamorous reality.

We invest an immense amount of effort into upkeeping our bodies. If we stop washing, we quickly begin to stink; we constantly cut our hair and trim our nails. Beneath the surface, we are made up of various biological elements—foul-smelling liquids and solid matters neatly packaged inside a thin layer of skin. When we observe all of this matter-of-factly, it becomes apparent that physical beauty is truly only skin-deep.

Ajahn Chah’s shocking teaching was a masterclass in stripping away illusions and refusing to be fooled by surface appearances.

2. Taking Responsibility for Our Thoughts

Another profound lesson here is about our personal responsibility regarding the contents of our minds. In the modern world, many people have entirely surrendered control over their thought streams.

Exposed to an endless torrent of media, our minds dart restlessly from one thing to another. Many of us are so lost in our thoughts that we lose the ability to discern wholesome thoughts from unwholesome ones. That is both unfortunate and deeply unhealthy.

Our minds operate very much like smartphone apps designed to keep us hooked on entertainment. Any excitement or good feeling generated by a specific thought causes the mind to spin out similar thoughts in a split second. Before we realize it, we’ve developed rigid patterns of habitual thinking:

• Habitually finding things offensive
• Habitually driven by desire or greed
• Habitually envious or harboring ill will

This creates a self-strengthening loop where our mental habits solidify into a fixed persona.

3. Catching and Stopping the Current

This story serves as a vivid reminder to watch what we are thinking. If a thought is unwholesome, we need the bare awareness to catch it and stop it right there. We cannot afford to let bad thoughts steer our lives in the wrong direction.

This is fundamental practice, sitting right at the heart of the Noble Eightfold Path. Even when we practice observing thoughts simply as clouds floating across the sky, the essential message is to let them go without leaving a trace—meaning, do not engage, and stop feeding the thought loop.

Conversely, wholesome thoughts—such as the teachings of the Buddha—are the ones we should actively cultivate, cherish, and lean into.

By doing so, we shape our mind and tune it according to the Dharma. That will bring us one step closer to Nirvana.

May all be well and happy.