Joke · Ajahn Brahm

Dying peacefully like Dad (the bus-driver joke)

1 min read

Content note: death humour

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

He said, "When I die, I want to die in my sleep just like my father. He died in his sleep. Not like the passengers in the bus he was driving at the time, screaming and shouting."

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 44:55 (to 45:13)

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

Ajahn Brahm admits he wasn't going to tell this one, then tells it and enjoys it. A joke about dying, told with a grin, loosens the fear a little. He turns straight to kindness toward yourself: relax, allow your mistakes and quirks, and stop being the most difficult person you have to live with.

In brief (our summary)

A comedian wants to die peacefully in his sleep like his father — unlike the screaming passengers on the bus his father was driving.

Teaching point

(Told as an aside; Ajahn Brahm says he 'wasn't going to tell this joke'.)

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Dealing With Difficult People | Ajahn Brahm | 28 Nov 2008 · 2008-12-06 · ▶ watch from 44:55 to 45:13 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

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

All stories·Find a story for your situation