# Missed lunch for the woman at the airport

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-missed-lunch-stabbing-airport-crisis
- Themes: compassion, crisis, priorities, monastic life
- Life situations: family violence crisis, choosing what matters

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

At lunchtime a call: a woman in crisis had stabbed her mother-in-law (hospitalised), fled to the airport, and would see only Ajahn Brahm. He skipped the meal window and went hungry to help — proud of choosing the between-moment of care over the schedule.

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

there was a call uh a woman was in big trouble uh she had um stabbed her mother-in-law mother-in-law was taken to hospital and this woman she' escaped to the airport and she was crazy she said I was the only person she wanted to see so of course you need to go and help her last thing you want to think about is your lunch I I missed my lunch that day I went hungry but who cares you could help somebody

## Teaching point

Sometimes the sacred schedule yields to a human being in crisis.

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

Just at mealtime, Ajahn Brahm got an urgent call: a woman in serious crisis would speak only to him. He skipped lunch, the only meal monks have, and went. Hungry, but glad. Schedules matter less than a person who needs us. The moment in front of you is where kindness happens.

## Source

- [In Between | Ajahn Brahm | 27-05-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uln6baN98g) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 13:53 to 14:27: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uln6baN98g&t=833s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Inspiration | Ajahn Brahm | 05-02-2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2_CqDkonoY) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 23:13 to 23:54: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2_CqDkonoY&t=1393s