# “When did you have your accident?”

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-hot-back-old-accident
- Themes: meditation, healing, body, letting go
- Life situations: old injury, chronic pain, stress in the body

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A retreatant reports that as she grew still her back became very hot, not painfully. Ajahn Brahm asks when she had her accident; astonished, she confirms a car accident injuring her back and shoulders. It isn't mind-reading, he says — this is what happens when deep relaxation lets the body's healing energy flow.

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

Few years ago a person in the retreat in North Perth came up to me and said she had a very strange experience during her meditation. She was getting quite still but her back became very hot. It was like on fire. not unpleasantly so, not painfully, but like an information was occurring there and she did not know why. So she came and saw me afterwards and say, "What's going on?" I was meditating there and suddenly got really warm and hot. So I asked her, "When did you have your accident?" And she looked at me and bra you read my mind had a car accident a few years ago. Yes. And you injured your back and shoulders. Yes. How do you know? Look, it's not psychic powers. It's just you told me because this is what happens.

## Teaching point

Relaxing out of the way lets the body's own healing work; meditation can't be forced.

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

A retreatant felt her back grow hot as she relaxed, and Ajahn Brahm asked when her accident was. Not mind-reading, he said; deep calm lets the body's own healing flow where it's needed. It complements proper care rather than replacing it. Stress gets in the way. Give your body time to rest.

## Source

- [Building a House of Peace | Ajahn Brahm | 13-04-2007](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxK7iqG2XQA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 25:17 to 26:17: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxK7iqG2XQA&t=1517s