# The walking stick that always missed

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-magnolia-psychotic-walking-stick
- Themes: mental health, courage, trust, Magnolia Street
- Life situations: psychosis, de-escalation

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

First year at Magnolia Street: a man in a psychotic episode waves a walking stick violently at Brahm but always misses on purpose; half an hour of calm talk ends in trust.

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

Magnolia Street, he came and he had a psychotic episode. And he had a walking stick cuz he was still, you know, he couldn't walk properly. And he started, uh, waving quite violently that stick at me. But he always missed me. It's just like he got the stick and trying to whack me on the head, but he would always miss. And it was obvious for me that it was on purpose. He wouldn't hit me. I just sat there talking to him, calming him down for about half an hour. And at the end of that little confrontation, you know, he trusted me. He trusted me so

## Teaching point

Sometimes the miss is the message — stay and listen.

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

A man in psychosis swung his walking stick at young Ajahn Brahm and always missed on purpose. Calm talk won his trust, and he called whenever he was struggling. Once, bedridden with fever, Ajahn Brahm couldn't come, and the man took his life. Do what you can, and forgive what you can't. If you're in crisis, call a helpline or someone close tonight.

## Source

- [Importance of Giving | Ajahn Brahm | 24 April 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzDe0ZdN4DE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 56:12 to 56:55: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzDe0ZdN4DE&t=3372s