# She signed a blank cheque so the refugee could see her dying mother

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-blank-cheque-for-dying-mother
- Themes: generosity, refugees, death, kindness
- Life situations: sudden bereavement travel, refugee poverty

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

In the Buddhist centre hall a Laotian refugee gets a telegram — mother dying in Oregon — no money to fly. The woman arranging flowers stops, opens her chequebook and signs a blank cheque: go see your mum.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

One of the Laotian refugees had just got a telegram from her mom her her her actually from family members, her mother was dying. But in Oregon, in uh United States. And she was here in Perth, this refugee. She had no means of getting to see her mother for one last time. And so, she was crying her eyes out. And the lady I'm talking about, she was organizing the flowers for the hall. She stopped doing that, reached into her um handbag, took out a checkbook. In those days, we used checkbooks. And just signed a blank check for her. For any amount. You go and see your mom

## Teaching point

Generosity can be a blank cheque when someone is crying for a last goodbye.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

A refugee got word that her mother was dying overseas and had no money to fly. A nurse arranging flowers, herself out of work, stopped and signed her a blank cheque: go see your mum. Kindness like that is beautiful. Ajahn Brahm pairs it with peace. Sitting quietly together and smiling says we care.

## Source

- [Mind Made Worlds | Ajahn Brahm | 20 January 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1DupN5I-u4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 39:37 to 40:31: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1DupN5I-u4&t=2377s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Importance of Kindness in Buddhism | Ajahn Brahm | 23 June 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21XOJTImHWg) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 27:56 to 30:36: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21XOJTImHWg&t=1676s
- [Wisdom from Experience | Ajahn Brahm | 7 November 2025](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjLBTlIobo4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 21:38 to 24:04: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjLBTlIobo4&t=1298s