# Relaxing into food poisoning

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-food-poisoning-relaxed-the-pain
- Themes: pain, mindfulness, kindness, meditation
- Life situations: acute illness, physical pain

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

About fifteen months earlier, several monks at Bodhinyana get food poisoning, Ajahn Brahm included. He skips a meal for the only time in years and is literally rolling on the floor of his cave holding his guts. Then he remembers to practise what he preaches: what would he tell someone else? He puts his mind right into the pain, is kind to it and relaxes it — further than he thought possible — until after 25 or 30 minutes the pain is gone.

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

with that physical pain of the food poisoning I just gave that food poisoning kindness; "Thank you for coming to visit me" even though I was in agony with cramps in my cave down at Serpentine. And it took only 20 minutes for that food poisoning to disappear

## Teaching point

Mindfulness plus kindness relaxes the body: attend to the pain, befriend it, and let the feedback guide the relaxing.

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

Struck by food poisoning, Ajahn Brahm rolled on his cave floor in agony, then remembered his own advice. He welcomed the pain with kindness and relaxed into it, and within half an hour it eased. Personal experience, not medical advice; get help when you need it. Kindness to the body helps it heal.

## Source

- [How to deal with chronic pain | Ajahn Brahm | 04-07-2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As9jmZBCUWU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 31:51 to 32:12: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As9jmZBCUWU&t=1911s

Other tellings of this story:

- [1. Relaxing the Body & Mind - Ajahn Brahm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUMEd3bWVIM) (BSWA Retreats 2011-15 & Media) — watch from 9:44 to 11:37: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUMEd3bWVIM&t=584s
- [Kindness Creates Peace | Ajahn Brahm | 18 February 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcYeueUnflY) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:00:58 to 1:04:38: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcYeueUnflY&t=3658s
- [The Three Most Important Things - Ajahn Brahm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2bXP2o6mD4) (BSWA Retreats 2011-15 & Media) — watch from 22:24 to 24:48: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2bXP2o6mD4&t=1344s
- [Mindfulness With Compassion | by Ajahn Brahm | 11-05-2012](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVV0a3Ctmmc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 37:34 to 40:10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVV0a3Ctmmc&t=2254s
- [The Benefits of Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 13 December 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5LJL6bgKO0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 3:50 to 6:26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5LJL6bgKO0&t=230s
- [How to be of Service | Ajahn Brahm | 11 June 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgKWRJ3Po44) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 35:39 to 38:45: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgKWRJ3Po44&t=2139s
- [12) Overcoming pain and unpleasant mind-states](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33cdVJJRWuA) (BSWA Retreats 2011-15 & Media) — watch from 3:38 to 6:33: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33cdVJJRWuA&t=218s