# He trained the muscles beside his spine

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-monk-spine-muscles-compensate
- Themes: mindfulness, chronic pain, monastery life, body
- Life situations: back pain, working around disability, meditation with pain

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A Bodhinyana monk with degenerative spine pain was told not to sit cross-legged. Using mindfulness he learned to feel, stretch and strengthen the muscles either side of the spine until they compensated for the weak spine and he could meditate again.

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

his spine was degenerated and was very weak. So what he did was, to compensate the weakness in his spine by learning how to develop the muscles either side of his spine. Starting off just by touching his back, with his fingers, the muscles on either side of the spine to become aware of them There is so much of our body we are not aware of at all. Because we don't need to be. And by keeping on stroking those muscles either side of the spine soon he became aware of the very existence of those muscles. In neurology you are making those connections in the brain. So you can feel those muscles. And then next thing with a bit of trial and error once he was aware of those muscles even without touching them he could learn how to stretch them trial and error the awareness could see how they stretch and how they contract. Once he could do that, next stage he could exercise those muscles just like you exercise your arms or exercise your legs through running. By working those muscles he exercised them and of course every time they exercise they got stronger and stronger and stronger until they became so strong much stronger than my equivalent muscles because I don't need them I've got a good back His muscles became so strong they compensated for the weakness in his spine and now he can meditate without any problem

## Teaching point

Mindful awareness of neglected body parts can open practical ways around chronic limits.

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

A monk with a degenerating spine was told he couldn't sit cross-legged. Through careful awareness he found and strengthened the muscles beside his spine until he could meditate again. One person's path, ideally alongside good care. Pay attention to what eases pain and what worsens it. Kindness helps; fear makes it worse.

## Source

- [How to deal with chronic pain | Ajahn Brahm | 04-07-2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As9jmZBCUWU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 41:25 to 42:56: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As9jmZBCUWU&t=2485s