# The taxi that made him miss the plane

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-bombay-taxi-missed-plane-crash
- Themes: adaptability, expectations, fortune, gratitude
- Life situations: delays and missed connections, travel, plans going wrong

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A man who later visits Ajahn Brahm tells him what changed his life. In Bombay, his taxi to the airport gets lost; he reaches the airport just in time to see his flight to Europe take off, and curses the driver. Then he watches the plane fall and crash. Now he is thanking the taxi driver.

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

I remember this guy years ago he came to see me and the thing which changed his life and made him far more more spiritual he was in India he was in Bombay at that time still Bombay before it was changed to Mumbai and he got in a in a taxi to take him to the airport he was flying back to Europe On A Plane taxi got lost and uh his time was ticking away he didn't know he was going to make his plane or not in the end he was just hoping there was a delay in the uh takeoff of the plane cuz it was going into the time of takeoff and as he actually managed to find IND the airport Bombay Airport he actually saw his plane take off and so he's cursing the driver you know he missed his plane he left the city in plenty of time but the stupid taxi driver got lost and he was so upset and then he saw the plane fall down and crash with I don't know most people dead I'd imagine and then he was taking the taxi driver thank you so much

## Teaching point

When things seem to go wrong, it may be another opportunity; rigid expectations make us suffer.

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

A man cursed his lost taxi driver as his plane took off without him, then watched it crash, and found himself thanking the driver. Thankfully, most delays are smaller. Still, the lesson changed his life. When plans fall apart, wait before calling it a disaster. Mindfulness sees the bigger picture, and kindness follows.

## Source

- [The Power of Mindfulness & Compassion | by Ajahn Brahm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkKF9fWXHmY) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 38:49 to 39:59: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkKF9fWXHmY&t=2329s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Day 10 Morning Talk on "Attitude to Life" - Nov 2013 Ajahn Brahm Retreat](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eivlNss6ZM) (BSWA Retreats 2011-15 & Media) — watch from 10:04 to 12:21: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eivlNss6ZM&t=604s
- [Caring For Others | Ajahn Brahm | 31 May 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RThpW61kX94) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 41:14 to 44:06: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RThpW61kX94&t=2474s