# Happytitis — very contagious

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Analogy
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-happytitis
- Themes: joy, humour, contagion, analogy
- Life situations: needing a lift, group mood

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Analogy/joke: not hepatitis — happytitis; stay long enough and you catch it.

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

Not hepatitis, that's bad disease. This is happytitis. Very contagious. If you stay here long enough, you'll start [laughter] Okay, come on, laugh at it. You can catch it if you like

## Teaching point

Joy spreads the way illness does — choose what you catch.

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

Not hepatitis, Ajahn Brahm says: happytitis. Very contagious. Stay around long enough and you'll catch it. The joke has a point. Whatever happens, even sickness, coughing or exhaustion, there's no need to add misery. Meditation can meet the tiredness gently. Go and spread some happytitis today.

## Source

- [Let's Talk About Old Age | Ajahn Brahm | 17 May 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGwf48aokyE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 39:07 to 39:24: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGwf48aokyE&t=2347s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Zero Ego | Ajahn Brahm | 6 March 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlZbR1VMHrY) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 40:56 to 41:33: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlZbR1VMHrY&t=2456s