# It was only a cough

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-cough-rumor-he-was-dying
- Themes: rumour, humour, illness, community
- Life situations: gossip, health scare

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Ajahn Brahm coughs; within days the rumour spreads that he is dying of some terrible disease and people ask whether it is terminal. It was only a cough.

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

I just coughed I think a couple of weeks ago and the word got around that I was dying I had some terrible disease and they started asking me is that brah going to live or is it terminal it was only a cough for goodness sake so I've got to be very careful but my mom is okay

## Teaching point

Gossip turns a cough into a terminal diagnosis; be careful what you say and what you believe.

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

Ajahn Brahm coughed once, and soon people were asking if his illness was terminal. It was only a cough. We react on autopilot: news of a death is sad, a kitten is sweet, often without looking. Those responses are learned. Pause before reacting, and before passing on a story.

## Source

- [Understanding Arguments | Ajahn Brahm | 15-04-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDgBfvFv-54) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 5:25 to 5:46: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDgBfvFv-54&t=325s