# In the loving arms of another man's wife

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-loving-arms-of-another-mans-wife
- Themes: humour, honesty, mother
- Life situations: needing a laugh

## Synopsis (editorial 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.

## 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.

## Teaching point

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

## 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.

## Source

- [How to be Free | Ajahn Brahm | 26 November 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeiRya9-vXc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:14:44 to 1:16:04: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeiRya9-vXc&t=4484s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Kindness, Generosity and Forgiveness | Ajahn Brahm | 8 July 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLrhGW7GEjM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 4:53 to 6:04: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLrhGW7GEjM&t=293s
- [How to Not Be Afraid | Ajahn Brahm | 10 October 2025](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaAPibPz3oM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 28:59 to 30:10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaAPibPz3oM&t=1739s
- [What Is Truth? | Ajahn Brahm | 26-02-2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qulM37mcksA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 32:23 to 33:55: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qulM37mcksA&t=1943s
- [Beginning of Your Spiritual Life | Ajahn Brahm | 17 February 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8VwV58VE-4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 42:18 to 42:59: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8VwV58VE-4&t=2538s
- [Why not Us? | Ajahn Brahm | 18-02-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_rd8PBUpwU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 10:26 to 12:03: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_rd8PBUpwU&t=626s
- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 12 December 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BsI-iB-xmk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:00:42 to 1:01:10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BsI-iB-xmk&t=3642s
- [Mindfulness and Productivity | Ajahn Brahm | 6 February 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO0A43r2r1Y) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 55:12 to 56:02: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO0A43r2r1Y&t=3312s
- [Helpful and Harmful Gossip | Ajahn Brahm | 13 March 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyIecIdEO2M) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 13:44 to 14:22: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyIecIdEO2M&t=824s
- [Effective Management | Ajahn Brahm | 06 Nov 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_5tfQRkAZ4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 50:31 to 51:09: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_5tfQRkAZ4&t=3031s
- [2023 April (3/19) | 9 day Retreat | Ajahn Brahm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPllNABzV_A) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:33:48 to 1:34:48: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPllNABzV_A&t=5628s