# The razor wheel in hell (Borobudur)

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-borobudur-razor-wheel
- Themes: guilt, compassion, karma, rebirth
- Life situations: guilt over hurting a parent, feeling you deserve punishment, intense suffering

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Shown a Borobudur carving, Ajahn Brahm tells of a man who pushed over his mother and, out of guilt, is reborn in hell, where a razor wheel cutting another man's head passes to him. Instead of despair he vows to bear it for 3,000 years so others need not — and with that kind thought the wheel shatters and he is reborn in heaven.

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

it was an old Buddhist story of a guy who had actually pretty good guy but he did one bad act he pushed over his mother and she injured herself and of course he felt so guilty about that that when he died he got born in this hell realm and he he went down to meet this guy you in this terrible realm and he saw this fellow you know having his head cut with a razor wheel you know just cutting into his head continuously you know obviously without him dying and he's in great pain but this guy said at last you've come because when I got this wheel it was 600 years ago cuz I hurt my mother and I was told that in 600 years time another guy will come cuz he also hurt his mom and when he comes the wheel will leave my head and I'll be free of this torture and it will go into this other guy's head and here you are here's a wheel so the wheel left this other guy and the guy sort of know vanished from this torture and he went into this new guy's head and he was cutting his head in an incredible Agony but this fellow this new guy he had thoughts of kindness of compassion and he said I'm going to take this wheel not for 600 years but for 3,000 years so the next four or five guys don't have to bear this I'll take their punishment for them and that kind thought the wheel shattered and he was taken away from this hell realm and reborn in the heaven realm Just one thought of kindness and compassion did that

## Teaching point

“Just one thought of kindness and compassion did that” — attitude creates experience, even in the worst place.

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

The man in the carving had hurt his mother and carried his guilt into a hell he half believed he deserved. What freed him was not more punishment but one generous thought for those who would come after him. Guilt tightens; kindness loosens. Feel remorse, make amends, then let compassion, including for yourself, take the place of self-punishment.

## Source

- [What Happens After You Die? | Ajahn Brahm | 08-04-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZZupDuprhU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 41:37 to 43:32: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZZupDuprhU&t=2497s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Devotion | Ajahn Brahm | 30-07-2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IbAy-OuLfo) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 42:58 to 44:44: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IbAy-OuLfo&t=2578s