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Story · Ajahn Brahm

The sign outside the temple

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Forms of Love In Buddhism | Ajahn Brahm | 26-11-2010

1 min read

Content note: public figure in Malaysia (unnamed)

The story — as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

one of the unexpected events which happened there was there was a lady who was how she'd heard me talk before and she was getting married and about three months ago she thought wouldn't it be wonderful if I could get a gibran to do my marriage blessing but how can I get him to come all the way to Malacca is impossible and even though that was her hope she just went past the temple and she saw this big sign saying agile Brahma is coming to Malacca on the very day that she'd arranged her marriage so she was so delighted that you could actually get me for a marriage ceremony and of course it I bless anything so very happy to bless our marriage for her

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 1:20 (to 2:16)

A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

A Malaysian bride thought getting Ajahn Brahm to her wedding was impossible, then passed a temple sign saying he'd be in Malacca that very day. He blesses anything, so he blessed her marriage. Then he asks why couples want something spiritual at a wedding. Love at its best is generous, and that is worth keeping.

In brief (our summary)

A woman in Malaysia, a model with her own TV show, had hoped three months earlier that Ajahn Brahm could bless her wedding — impossible, she thought, to get him to Malacca. Then, passing a temple, she sees a big sign: Ajahn Brahm is coming to Malacca, on the very day she has set for her wedding. Delighted, she asks; he blesses anything, so he blesses her marriage.

Teaching point

Leads into why people want a spiritual element when they commit to each other.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Forms of Love In Buddhism | Ajahn Brahm | 26-11-2010 · 2010-11-28 · ▶ watch from 1:20 to 2:16 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

4 other tellings of this story

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'gibran' = Ajahn Brahm; 'agile Brahma' = Ajahn Brahm.

The narrative is Ajahn Brahm's own telling, quoted from the talk captions. The summary and reflection are Being Mindful Stories's editorial notes. Please credit the teacher and link the original talk. Markdown version

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