# You're the girl whose name I keep forgetting

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-girl-whose-name-i-keep-forgetting
- Themes: humour, fame, memory
- Life situations: needing a laugh, awkward recognition

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

When strangers ask 'Do you remember me?' after talks to hundreds or thousands, a joke-book escape: 'Oh yes — you're the girl whose name I keep forgetting.'

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

somebody comes up, do you remember me? And I say, "Oh, yeah. Yeah, you're the the girl whose name I keep forgetting." That gets you out of a bind anyway. You're the person whose name I keep forgetting. Who are you? Keep forgetting your name

## Teaching point

(Joke about impossible recognition.)

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

Asked 'Do you remember me?', Ajahn Brahm has a joke-book escape: you're the one whose name I keep forgetting. Once, honestly, he didn't recognise a man he'd taught while very ill, who said he'd since recovered and now teaches meditation. Not a promised cure. But sharing what helped you can give others hope.

## Source

- [Why? Is an Important Question to Ask | Ajahn Brahm | 1 January 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3v0vceM7-0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 19:51 to 20:12: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3v0vceM7-0&t=1191s

Other tellings of this story:

- [12 Insight Into the Path](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO3bq37SIGY) (BSWA Retreats 2011-15 & Media) — watch from 34:13 to 34:45: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO3bq37SIGY&t=2053s