# I lied about my age — I told her I was 90

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-lied-about-age-ninety
- Themes: humour, age, relationships
- Life situations: needing a laugh, age anxiety

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Seventy-year-old marries a young woman; friend asks if he lied about his age — yes: he said he was ninety.

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

70 years of age, and he married this very you know, he's quite wealthy, and he married this very, very young woman. And his friend said, "How did you get to marry her? Did you lie about your age?" He said, "Yeah, I lied about my age. I told her I was 90

## Teaching point

Sometimes the flattering lie is in the other direction.

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

A wealthy seventy-year-old married a very young woman. His friend asked whether he'd lied about his age. Yes, he'd said he was ninety. Ajahn Brahm explains the joke for online viewers and insists there's no meanness in it. Laughing kindly at life's silliness brings joy, and a monk with just a cave and a bat needs his joy.

## Source

- [Importance of Having Fun and Joy | Ajahn Brahm | 15 May 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjP9CXZEuv0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 13:25 to 13:43: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjP9CXZEuv0&t=805s