# Interrupted by the radio

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-caretaker-suicide-radio
- Themes: suicide prevention, depression, meaning, right livelihood
- Life situations: depression, suicidal thoughts, retirement

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A former caretaker of the Perth centre retired to Beverley for a peaceful life but fell into depression. He went into his shed, tied a noose to the rafter, set up the chair, and went into his caravan to write a suicide note with the local radio on. Halfway through, Ajahn Brahm came on the radio. 'Oh no, I can't do anything without this monk getting in the way.' He ripped up the note, untied the rope, and later told Ajahn Brahm: 'It's really too difficult to commit suicide — you even get on the radio and stop me.'

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

he lives over in Beverly he was an old caretaker of our Center here he left to have a nice peaceful time up in Beverly and but you know we all go through difficult times he went through a depression and he got so deped pressed he actually went into his shed and tied a rope to the rafter tied a noose got the chair ready and went into the Caravan where he was saying to write his suicide note he had the he had the uh the radio one at the time just the local radio and as he was writing a suicide note you know just halfway through who would come on the radio aan brah and he said oh no I can't do anything without this m getting in the way so he ripped up his suicide now untied the rope and came and told me about it afterwards he said it's really too difficult to commit suicide you even get on the radio and stop me that's another guy I've got saved his life

## Teaching point

Making a difference to even one person's life gives life its meaning.

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

A former caretaker, deep in depression, was writing a farewell note when Ajahn Brahm's voice came on the local radio. He tore up the note and came to tell him: it's too hard to die with you getting in the way. Kindness travels further than we know. If you're struggling, please reach out to someone or a crisis line now.

## Source

- [What path to take in life? | Ajahn Brahm | 08-02-2013](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn47GEy51WM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 48:38 to 49:50: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn47GEy51WM&t=2918s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Understanding suicide | Ajahn Brahm | 06-02-2015](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqPCMJH5Emk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 7:53 to 8:48: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqPCMJH5Emk&t=473s