Being Mindful Stories

Story · Ajahn Brahm

'Now I've got you exactly where I want you'

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Growing from Difficult Times | Ajahn Brahm | 21 April 2023

1 min read

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

Like one of these monks, he was visiting his family over in Chicago years ago. I know Chicago is can be really cold, very windy, and when it does get icy, it's very, very slippy in Chicago. He slipped over and he did broke his leg, break his leg. And he told me afterwards he was taken to hospital with a broken leg. And of course, you know, they contacted his mother who lived in Chicago. And when she came into the room to see her son with a broken leg, he told me he never seen his mother smile so much. She was so happy. How can you be happy when your son's in pain and broken his leg? And she said, "Now, son, I've got you exactly where I want you. You can't go back to Thailand and and become a monk or or Sri Lanka and just disappear in some cave somewhere. You're in the hospital. You can't go anywhere. Now, I'm going to mother you whether you like it or not.

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 48:56 (to 50:04)

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

When a monk broke his leg visiting Chicago, his mother beamed: now I've got you exactly where I want you, and I'm going to mother you. Imagine finally being allowed to care for someone you love. Kindness and friendship are the best insurance. Check your karma balance more than your bank balance.

In brief (our summary)

A monk visiting his family in Chicago slips on the ice and breaks his leg. When his mother comes into the hospital room, he has never seen her smile so much. 'Now, son, I've got you exactly where I want you. You can't go back to Thailand... or disappear in some cave. You're in the hospital. You can't go anywhere. Now I'm going to mother you whether you like it or not.'

Teaching point

Kind friends and family are the best insurance; to care for someone you love can be a joy.

When this story may help

  • illness or injury
  • parents of monastics
  • accepting help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Growing from Difficult Times | Ajahn Brahm | 21 April 2023 · 2023-04-22 · ▶ watch from 48:56 to 50:04 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions with machine-added punctuation; words left exactly 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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