Story · Ajahn Brahm
The medium who named Auntie Opal's husband
Content note: paranormal claim (family testimony, unverified); named private individuals
The story — as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)
I can tell this other real story. This is a true story because this is family. I asked my mother while she was still alive and asked my auntie who actually is still alive. She's in her 90s now. Did this really happen? Yeah, it did. And this is like your own mother and your auntie. They grew up as almost like sisters. And because uh when they were still just after the Second World War, they were young and they were looking for partners in life. So my auntie and my mom, they went together to this dark no to this medium, you know, just for for fun, just to see what was going on. And this medium took one look at my auntie and her name was Opal and said, "You are soon going to meet your husband." Now, if somebody says that to you, you know, think, "Oh, the guy's crazy." Or was a woman meet him? I'm not sure. But anyway, oh yeah. And he said and his name will be first name Donald surname Wolfries. Now Donald was not a uncommon name but Wolfries a surname was really uncommon. So I said what did you think about when it was rubbish you know stupid but it was no good fun. But then about a week later she met this and I asked her what happened. So, I met this nice guy at a dance. That's what they used to do in those days. And you know, he asked me for a dance. I said, "Yes." And said, "What's your name?" And he said, "Donald." Uh-oh. Surname was wolf. They were married 60 years.
▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 1:06:28 (to 1:08:16)
A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)
A medium told Auntie Opal she would soon marry a man called Donald, with a rare surname; a week later he asked her to dance, and they were married sixty years. Ajahn Brahm checked it with both sisters and simply admits he doesn't know how. Not everything needs explaining. Some things you can just enjoy.
In brief (our summary)
Just after WWII, Ajahn Brahm's mother and his aunt Opal, close as sisters, visit a medium for fun. The medium tells Opal she will soon meet her husband — first name Donald, surname Wolfries, a very uncommon name. They think it's rubbish. About a week later at a dance a nice young man asks Opal to dance: his name is Donald, surname Wolf[ries]. They were married sixty years. Ajahn Brahm checked it with both his mother and his aunt: yes, it really happened.
Teaching point
Some things — like this prediction — have no easy explanation.
When this story may help
- looking for a partner
- curiosity about psychics
Themes
Source & credit
Told by Ajahn Brahm in The Nature of Your Mind | Ajahn Brahm | 8 May 2020 · 2020-05-08 · ▶ watch from 1:06:28 to 1:08:16 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia
2 other tellings of this story
- Buddhism and Ghosts | Ajahn Brahm | 10 March 2023 · 2023-03-10 · ▶ watch from 1:52 to 5:15 · Buddhist Society of Western AustraliaMar 2023 telling: mother and Auntie Opal as almost-sisters; medium names Donald Woolfries; dance a week later; married 60 years; Opal still alive in her 90s and clear.
- Past Life Personality | Ajahn Brahm | 26 January 2018 · 2018-01-26 · ▶ watch from 33:37 to 35:33 · Buddhist Society of Western AustraliaJan 2018 telling: mother and cousin Opal; post-WWII medium; Donald Wolfries; dance a week later; married 60 years; checked with Opal many times.
Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'dark no to this medium' — self-correction kept as captioned.
The narrative is Ajahn Brahm's own telling, quoted from the talk captions. The summary and reflection are Being Mindful Stories's editorial notes. Please credit the teacher and link the original talk. Markdown version