Being Mindful Stories

Joke · Ajahn Brahm

Get your wife to cancel if you're dead

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Why Do People Do Bad Things? | Ajahn Brahm | 17-06-2011

1 min read

Content note: health humour; death humour

The story — as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

the guy who went to see his doctor and the doctor said well you know you really need an operation this is dangerous for your health we can schedule you in for three months said the doctor and the man said three months time I can't wait that long I might be dead in 3 months and the doctor said don't worry just get your wife to ring my secretary we'll cancel the appointment

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 51:14 (to 51:52)

A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

Told surgery is three months away, a patient protests he might be dead by then. Don't worry, says the doctor; your wife can ring and cancel. A dark joke. Ajahn Brahm then sums up why people do harm: tiredness, narrow empathy, bad company and unwise wants. Rest, widen your circle, and keep good friends.

In brief (our summary)

A man needing an operation is told the earliest slot is in three months; he protests he might be dead by then. The doctor says don't worry — just get your wife to ring the secretary and cancel the appointment.

Teaching point

A bad joke can still tell the truth about how little care sometimes feels like.

When this story may help

  • waiting for treatment
  • dark humour about health

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Why Do People Do Bad Things? | Ajahn Brahm | 17-06-2011 · 2011-06-19 · ▶ watch from 51:14 to 51:52 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'mod' garbled after punchline.

The narrative is Ajahn Brahm's own telling, quoted from the talk captions. The summary and reflection are Being Mindful Stories's editorial notes. Please credit the teacher and link the original talk. Markdown version

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