Ajahn Brahm is Spiritual Director of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia. His initial training as a monk took place in northeast Thailand under the supervision of the renowned meditation teacher Ajahn Chah. When Brahm arrived in Thailand from England, he spoke no Thai but was required to use the language immediately at the monastery. It meant he had to learn "on the job".
One day he needed some soap so he asked the teacher. The Thai word for soap is saboo but he said sapo, which means "pineapple". Ajahn Chah asked Brahm "why do you need a pineapple?" Brahm answered "to wash with!" Ajahn Chah laughed hysterically and for days told visitors to the monastery that "Westerners wash with pineapples. They're such an advanced culture!"
One day he needed some soap so he asked the teacher. The Thai word for soap is saboo but he said sapo, which means "pineapple". Ajahn Chah asked Brahm "why do you need a pineapple?" Brahm answered "to wash with!" Ajahn Chah laughed hysterically and for days told visitors to the monastery that "Westerners wash with pineapples. They're such an advanced culture!"
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