Being Mindful Stories

Story · Ajahn Brahm

The budgie's gone on holiday

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Dealing With a Loved Ones's Suffering | Ajahn Brahm | 05-11-2010

1 min read

The story — as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

Where's the budgy, daddy?" And daddy said, "Oh, he's gone on holiday." I said, "No, he's not. He's died, hasn't he?" I I sused out my dad pretty quickly. Don't lie to me, Dad. He's died

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 19:30 (to 19:46)

A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

Told the budgie had gone on holiday, four-year-old Ajahn Brahm replied: no, he died; don't lie to me. Children see through comforting fibs. He also loves that former monks keep returning to his monastery. Be honest with those you care for, and leave the cage door open. Freedom brings people back.

In brief (our summary)

Aged about four or five, Ajahn Brahm asks where the budgie is; Dad says it's gone on holiday. The child sees through it: no — he's died. Don't lie to me.

Teaching point

Even small children can smell a comforting lie; honesty respects them.

When this story may help

  • talking to children about death
  • white lies

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Dealing With a Loved Ones's Suffering | Ajahn Brahm | 05-11-2010 · 2010-11-07 · ▶ watch from 19:30 to 19:46 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'budgy'/'sused' 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

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