Being Mindful Stories

Joke · Ajahn Brahm

In the loving arms of another man's wife

As told by Ajahn Brahm in How to be Free | Ajahn Brahm | 26 November 2021

1 min read

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

Many years ago, I made a confession that some years and years ago, I had some of the most wonderful time of my life in the loving arms of another man's wife. Honestly, she was married to somebody else. We kissed. We hugged. I loved her. She loved me. Shut up, Agent Bob. You're spoiling it. That was my mom. She was married to my dad. Okay. [laughter] I spent some of the most wonderful times of my life in the loving arms of another man's wife. That's true. I never lied with my [laughter] mother. I honestly I remember when I first told that here years and years ago a couple of the people they just walked out. They thought I can't trust this guy. [laughter] They didn't hear the full story. That was my mother. She was in the loving arms of another man's wife.

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 1:14:44 (to 1:16:04)

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

Ajahn Brahm confesses to blissful years in the loving arms of another man's wife: his mother. A couple of people once walked out before the punchline. Don't judge people too quickly, or yourself. Admit your mistakes, especially to your partner. Having the guts to say you're not perfect makes a much better life together.

In brief (our summary)

Ajahn Brahm 'confesses' that he spent some of the most wonderful times of his life in the loving arms of another man's wife: they kissed, hugged, loved each other. It was his mother — married to his dad. When he first told it years ago, a couple of people walked out before the punchline, thinking they couldn't trust him.

Teaching point

(Humour, inside a talk on honesty and owning up to mistakes.)

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in How to be Free | Ajahn Brahm | 26 November 2021 · 2021-11-26 · ▶ watch from 1:14:44 to 1:16:04 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

10 other tellings of this story

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions with machine-added punctuation; words left exactly as captioned. Caption has 'I never lied with my [laughter] mother' and 'She was in the loving arms of another man's wife' (he means he was) — as spoken/captioned.

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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