# The monk who grabbed the king cobra

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-monk-grabbed-king-cobra
- Themes: fear, courage, monastic life
- Life situations: sudden danger

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Other monks Ajahn Brahm grew up with saw a king cobra wander into the hall; a monk who had been a snake-catcher as a layman simply grabbed it. Ajahn Brahm did not see it himself.

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

There was know when monks were sitting a cobra, a king cobra came in to the hall and it was actually not trying to attack anybody. It was just basically didn't know where it was going and started moving and this monk grabbed it. That's what he used to do when he was a lay person as a snake catcher. He grabbed it. It's amazing to see that.

## Teaching point

Told as an aside on forest-monk nerve; not recommended to try at home.

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

When a king cobra wandered into the hall, a monk who'd caught snakes before ordaining simply picked it up. Ajahn Brahm heard it from fellow monks. Please don't try it. Still, it shows how calm and skill can meet what terrifies the rest of us. Most fears shrink when you understand them.

## Source

- [Confidence, Fear and Anxiety | Ajahn Brahm | 28 January 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnYwHoYJID8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:02:14 to 1:02:46: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnYwHoYJID8&t=3734s