# The poem by Adolf Hitler

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-hitler-poem-in-book
- Themes: non-judgement, goodness, forgiveness
- Life situations: demonising others, judging people

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

In Opening the Door of Your Heart he included a beautiful poem about a son's unconditional love for his demanding mother — and only afterwards does the reader see the author: Adolf Hitler. He put it there to show that everyone has some goodness; people aren't simply evil.

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

Have a read of that book “Opening the Door of Your Heart” and there you'll see a poem of a mother's, of a son’s love to her mother. I forget exactly how it goes but it's something like “when your mother grows old, when her eyes are dim and her hands become very weak, when she asks you for a favor reply in kindness, if she asked you again, reply in kindness the second time and a third time, please help her because the time will come, the terrible time when your mother can’t ask no more, so, and every time she asks, give time to her. It was something like that. But when I read first read that poem I couldn't believe it was written by Adolf Hitler!

## Teaching point

There is some beauty and goodness in every person; don't call anyone simply evil.

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

Ajahn Brahm put a tender poem about loving a demanding mother in his book, and only afterwards did readers see whose name was attached. He wanted to show that no one is simply evil. Think of difficult people kindly, even when they're not around. Look for their good side, and help that side grow.

## Source

- [Why Is It So Hard To Be Kind? | Ajahn Brahm | 05 March 2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbTLO-Z9rf8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 40:39 to 41:33: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbTLO-Z9rf8&t=2439s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Our Mind and Our Health | Ajahn Brahm | 7 July 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irCk-DJXisM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:06:25 to 1:07:35: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irCk-DJXisM&t=3985s
- [Understanding Arguments | Ajahn Brahm | 15-04-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDgBfvFv-54) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 18:09 to 19:29: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDgBfvFv-54&t=1089s
- [Kindness, Generosity and Forgiveness | Ajahn Brahm | 8 July 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLrhGW7GEjM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:04:14 to 1:05:17: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLrhGW7GEjM&t=3854s