# Then cancel my husband's life insurance

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-life-insurance-replacement
- Themes: humour, insurance
- Life situations: needing a laugh

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A woman's house burns down; the insurer will only replace, not cut a cheque. She says she should cancel her husband's life insurance then — she would only get a replacement.

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

cancel the life insurance for my husband then (laughter from the audience) she would just get a replacement ok there we go, another chronically bad joke

## Teaching point

(Joke.)

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

Told her insurer would only replace her burnt house, not pay cash, a woman decides to cancel her husband's life insurance; she'd only get a replacement. Then Ajahn Brahm turns to the Buddha's two arrows. Physical pain is part of life. The second arrow, our emotional reaction, is the one we can work with.

## Source

- [How to deal with chronic pain | Ajahn Brahm | 04-07-2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As9jmZBCUWU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:29 to 1:44: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As9jmZBCUWU&t=89s