# The woman who swapped seats to talk

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-kl-flight-woman-swapped-seats
- Themes: contentment, humour, service, monastic life
- Life situations: being imposed on, travel, exhaustion

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Exhausted on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Perth, Ajahn Brahm sits by the window. A woman asks if he's Ajahn Brahm because she really needs to talk; he points out there's someone in the aisle seat. She asks that man to swap. Ajahn Brahm silently prays 'please say no' — the man says yes, and she asks about her marriage and relationships all the way to Perth, where he had to give a talk that night.

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

It happened I was on another flight once, really tired from Kuala Lumpur back to Perth sitting on the window seat, a woman come pass and she said "Are you Ajahn Brahm? I really need to talk to you." and I said "there is another fellow who is in the aisle seat" Never mind. You know what this woman did? She bent down and asked this guy in the aisle seat "Would you mind exchanging seats?" And I was praying "please say no, no, no!" (laughter from the audience) That bastard; he said ''Yes'' So this woman all the way from Kuala Lumpur to Perth asked me about her marriage, her relationships.... And I had to come back and give a talk that night as well.. Really unfair...

## Teaching point

Told humorously as part of 'being exploited' and staying content anyway.

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

Exhausted on a flight, Ajahn Brahm silently prayed the man in the aisle seat would refuse to swap with a woman who needed to talk. He agreed, and she asked about her marriage all the way to Perth. Ajahn Brahm still gave his talk that night. Being imposed on happens. Grumble with a smile, then give what you can.

## Source

- [Contentment | Ajahn Brahm | 11 Mar 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Sd2HpnpBU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 30:09 to 31:05: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Sd2HpnpBU&t=1809s