# The ex-Marine monk who caught his fits early

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-marine-monk-epilepsy-mindfulness
- Themes: mindfulness, illness, panic, awareness
- Life situations: panic attacks, epilepsy, chronic illness, trauma

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A monk friend, shot in the head as a US Marine in Vietnam, has epileptic fits from the brain injury. Over a couple of years of mindfulness he learns to sense the build-up earlier and earlier, then goes to his darkened room and relaxes — and eventually the fits stop.

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

one of my friends who was a monk many years ago. He was in the US Marines in the Vietnam War He had because he was shot in the back of the head And had some brain damage Otherwise is a wonderful monk very kind, but he had epileptic fits because of the injury being shortened though in a head how he dealt with his epileptics have hits similar way to overcome the panic attacks Because he was aware Mindful he could actually catch those fits Earlier and earlier and earlier he could see the signs. He could be aware to see how it works because The fits never just came out of the blue they had the introduction of the little bits getting more tense more tense he could actually feel it coming It took for a couple of years before he could catch it early enough He could take another path Relax used to go to his room darken the room just lay down and just relaxed as much as he could and then after a while no more epileptic fits

## Teaching point

Fits and panic attacks don't come out of the blue; awareness catches the build-up and offers another path.

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

Through years of patient mindfulness, a monk with a war injury learned to sense his fits building and lie down in a dark room before they took hold. That is his story, not a treatment; epilepsy needs proper medical care. The wider lesson is gentle: storms like panic rarely come from nowhere, and noticing them early gives you a choice.

## Source

- [Stress - Overreaction to Life | Ajahn Brahm | 9 March 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEpeaWywKi4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 54:12 to 55:27: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEpeaWywKi4&t=3252s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 19 June 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp1MCTvD1D4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:16:09 to 1:17:00: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp1MCTvD1D4&t=4569s
- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 8 June 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKhOYvDRKrg) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:04:00 to 1:04:57: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKhOYvDRKrg&t=3840s
- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 4 June 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv-Q87noZ8g) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:03:57 to 1:05:00: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv-Q87noZ8g&t=3837s
- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 23 June 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP4YT-fiK0U) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:10:31 to 1:11:34: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP4YT-fiK0U&t=4231s