# Coralie wrestled him into a funeral hug

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-coralie-kentish-funeral-hug
- Themes: humour, funerals, friendship, monastic rules
- Life situations: needing a laugh, funeral awkwardness

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

At Clem Kentish's funeral his daughter Coralie (farm girl who wrestled sheep) insisted on hugging the monk despite the rule; he said no — she said yes — and he had no chance.

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

His daughter Corali you know she knew how much he loved our monks and the good friendship we had. So, you know what happens in Australia after a funeral sort of, you know, she came I came up to give my best wishes and she said, "Uh, uh, can I give you a hug? You're not supposed to hug monks if you're girls." And I said, "No, you can't do that." She said, "Yes, I can." [laughter] Now, don't any of you try that because she would wrestle sheep. She was a farm farm girl. I didn't have a chance

## Teaching point

(Warm funeral humour about affection stronger than etiquette.)

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

At her father's funeral, the mayor's daughter, a farm girl who wrestled sheep, insisted on hugging Ajahn Brahm despite the monastic rule. He said no; she said yes, and he never stood a chance. Affection born of friendship can be stronger than etiquette. Kindness given over years comes back in surprising ways.

## Source

- [Getting Along with Difficult Family Members | Ajahn Brahm | 18 June 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SKiukqiAK8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 25:08 to 25:49: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SKiukqiAK8&t=1508s

Other tellings of this story:

- [A Buddhist Perspective on Monogamy | by Ajahn Brahm | 29 May 2015](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb6vCzllyw4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 16:05 to 17:01: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb6vCzllyw4&t=965s