# Give me the phone — call your other son

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-bundaberg-estranged-son-phone
- Themes: family, reconciliation, Australia
- Life situations: estranged relatives, family silence

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

After Bundaberg visit, lunch in Brisbane: host has two sons, one estranged for years. Brahm asks for the number, takes the phone and reconnects them.

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

Bundaberg in Queensland, and on the way back, uh in uh Brisbane before I went to the airport, is one of the gentlemen there invited me for dinner for dinner in his house. So, went there for the lunch. When I was talking to him, I just talking just being polite, how many kids have you got? Yeah, I've got two sons. So, are they here? One of them is, but the one the other one I haven't seen him for about 7 or 8 years. How come? Is he going overseas? No, he lives a few suburbs away. How come you haven't seen him for such a long time? He said, "Oh, we had some sort of argument." And I saw the younger son. Then he says, "Have you got your elder son's telephone number?" He said, "Yes." Give him a call now, please. The thing was, because in Sri Lanka, I'm very well respected. And so they they didn't dare saying no. So, he got out his phone and called his his elder brother. And once he got through, I said, "Give me the phone." And I picked up the phone and said, this is true, this is exactly what happened. I said, "This is Ajahn Brahm here." "Ajahn Brahm?" Said, "Yes, I'm at your dad's house. Come immediately." And I put the phone down. And this this poor young man didn't have a choice. He was scared that something terrible would happen to him if he didn't obey me. So, he he came to his dad's house. And they hadn't seen each other for 7 or 8 years

## Teaching point

Sometimes reconciliation starts when a guest grabs the phone.

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

At a lunch in Brisbane, Ajahn Brahm learned his host hadn't seen one son in seven or eight years. He phoned the son and ordered him over. Father and son sat side by side, and neither could remember what the quarrel was about. They shook hands and ate together. Whatever your rift is, forgive. It's easier than you think.

## Source

- [Anger and Forgiveness | Ajahn Brahm | 27 January 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4JAjEj2d_c) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 40:12 to 42:01: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4JAjEj2d_c&t=2412s