Bridgeen tells a Buddhist parable from Ajahn Brahm about a monk who finally agrees to read a disciple's palm. The prediction: his future will be uncertain. The point is that no one can truly predict what's coming, especially during COVID, so focus on caring for yourself instead.
Hiya, it's Bridgeen back with your Corona Jackanory. This is where I have to say thank you to my friend Maura for coining that phrase, Corona Jackanory. I'm glad to hear yous are enjoying the stories, and I think you're gonna like this one. If you're like me right now, you're going, what's gonna happen? You would love somebody to just predict the future. There's many times in my life when I wanted somebody just to predict the future. And tonight, Ajahn Brahm reminds us that that's not really possible. But this is a great wee story. It's very, very short. It's called Predicting the Future. Many people would like to know the future. Some are too impatient to wait for it to happen, so they seek out the services of oracles and fortune tellers. I have a warning for you on oracles. Never trust a poor fortune teller. Meditating monks are regarded as excellent fortune tellers, but they usually don't cooperate easily. One day, a long-serving lay disciple of Ajahn Chah— Ajahn Chah was Ajahn Brahm's teacher, he was a great teacher— asked the great master. So one day, a long-serving lay disciple of Ajahn Chah asked the great master to predict his future. Ajahn Chah refused. Good monks don't tell fortunes. But the disciple was determined. He reminded Ajahn Chah of how many times he had offered him alms food, how many donations he had given to his monastery, and how he had chauffeured Ajahn Chah in his own car at his own expense, to neglect of work and family— of his own work and family. Ajahn Chah saw that the man was determined to get his fortune told, So he said that for once he would make an exception to the no fortune-telling rule. Give me your hand, let me see your palm. The disciple was thrilled. Ajahn Chah had never read palms for any other disciple. This was special. Moreover, Ajahn Chah was regarded as a saint with great psychic powers. Whatever Ajahn Chah said would happen would surely happen. Ajahn Chah traced the lines on the disciple's palm with his own index finger. Every so often he would say to himself, Mmm, that's interesting, or, well, well, well, or, amazing. The poor disciple was in a frenzy of anticipation. When Ajahn Chah was finished, he let go of the disciple's hand and said to him, Disciple, this is how your future will turn out. Yes, yes! said the disciple quickly. And I am never wrong, said Ajahn Chah. I know, I know. Well, what's my future going to be? the disciple uttered in ultimate excitement. Your future will be uncertain, said A. Zan Cha, and he wasn't wrong. How good is that? Your future will be uncertain, but I hope you will all be well. Please take care of yourselves to protect your future and all of our futures as much as possible. Thanks for listening again. Good night.
