# Magnolia Flora took the CD

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-magnolia-flora-took-the-cd
- Themes: publishing, generosity, cancer, kindness
- Life situations: writing, illness

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

After a Melbourne University talk, publisher Magnolia Flora offers to publish; Brahm pulls a freshly typed CD of his stories from his bag — Opening the Door of Your Heart begins. Later she uses the book through her own cancer.

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

I still remember this lady came up to me after the talk and said, "That was a very good talk. I work in the publishing industry. If ever you want any of those uh talks published, please let me know. And all I did next, and this is no exaggeration, I reached into my bag, this bag or similar one, and I took out a CD. So, here you go. And that's opening the door of your heart. I still remember her name because she had this wonderful name, Magnolia Flora

## Teaching point

Sometimes the gift is already in the bag when the right person asks.

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

After a talk at Melbourne University, a publisher asked if Ajahn Brahm's stories could become a book. He reached into his bag and handed her a CD of them: the start of 'Opening the Door of Your Heart'. Years later she told him the book helped her through cancer. Be ready to give. The gift may already be in your bag.

## Source

- [Meditation, Kindness and Energy | Ajahn Brahm | 12 May 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MgnroF0hQI) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 19:33 to 20:18: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MgnroF0hQI&t=1173s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Bringing Joy into Sickness | Ajahn Brahm | 7 June 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pChVS4oWK4E) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 16:19 to 17:02: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pChVS4oWK4E&t=979s
- [How to Deal with Rejection | Ajahn Brahm | 28 February 2025](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjmkj8NpH7s) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 30:27 to 31:01: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjmkj8NpH7s&t=1827s