Being Mindful Stories

Story · Ajahn Brahm

She came back to see what her husband was up to

As told by Ajahn Brahm in The Attitude Of Fearlessness | Ajahn Brahm | 21-11-2008

1 min read

Content note: unverified claim

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

I just remember one lady saying, "Oh, it was just so blissful and beautiful being out of my body," she was in a hospital with some terrible sickness. Her husband was racing to the hospital to try and catch her before she died, but she had already died, she was away having a wonderful time, but then she came back when she was wondering what her husband was up to. [laughter] I mean in a good way, I'm not saying that he was playing around, but you know whether he was worrying about her, whether he was coming, that brought her back. She told us afterwards, "That was the most wonderful experience of my life." I said, "Yeah, probably you like everybody else who's had those experiences are no longer afraid of death." "Yes," she said "I'm not afraid of death. Why should you be afraid of death when you know it's gonna be nice?

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 41:19 (to 42:10)

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

She was having a blissful time out of her body and came back only to see what her husband was up to, worrying about her, presumably. Accounts like hers are reported, not proven. What Ajahn Brahm draws from them is a softer view of dying: much of our dread is learned, and understanding can loosen it, which may bring the living a little peace too.

In brief (our summary)

A retreat participant tells how, dying in hospital while her husband raced to reach her, she was out of her body having a blissful time — and came back only because she wondered what he was up to. Since then she has no fear of death.

Teaching point

Those who have near-death experiences report them as beautiful and lose their fear of death.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in The Attitude Of Fearlessness | Ajahn Brahm | 21-11-2008 · 2008-11-30 · ▶ watch from 41:19 to 42:10 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

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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