# The man who attended his own funeral

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-living-funeral-adjust-the-will
- Themes: meaning, death, gratitude, humour
- Life situations: terminal illness, funerals, appreciation

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A terminally ill man in the United States decides to hold his funeral service a week or two before he dies, so he can be there to hear the eulogies and the difference he made to people's lives. And, Ajahn Brahm adds, so he could see who turned up — while there was still time to adjust the will.

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

that gentleman in the United States who decided okay this is a bit of a pattern but here it comes decided to think outside the box decided to have his funeral service when he was still alive just a week or two before he died what a wonderful thing to do now his death was gonna happen you know it was predicted and one was unstoppable some disease we decided a week or two before his demise to hold his funeral service so he could be there and listen to the effect which he had had on other people's lives and he could be there to listen so what a great idea that would be but he also said that is also he could see a she who turned up for his funeral what he still had time to adjust the will

## Teaching point

Don't wait until your funeral to know the meaning you've given to others; value the small goodness you've accumulated.

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

A dying man held his funeral early, so he could hear the eulogies and, Ajahn Brahm jokes, see who came while he could still change the will. Why wait to know the good you've done? We sell ourselves short. Can you serve, be kind, love, forgive? Then you're more than good enough.

## Source

- [Discovering and Following Meaning in Your Life | Ajahn Brahm | 3 May 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nYirce5Un0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 36:37 to 37:46: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nYirce5Un0&t=2197s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Gratitude and Expectations | Ajahn Brahm | 9 July 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzT3W1jjTYY) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 37:53 to 38:19: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzT3W1jjTYY&t=2273s
- [Only The Body Is Sick | Ajahn Brahm | 04-11-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfy69sa-h8E) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 24:55 to 25:20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfy69sa-h8E&t=1495s
- [Humoristic Buddhism| Ajahn Brahm | 31 March 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIg4F99Manc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 22:50 to 23:25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIg4F99Manc&t=1370s