# 'Goodnight, Paul'

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-newborn-said-goodnight-paul
- Themes: rebirth, mind and body, paranormal
- Life situations: new baby, unexplained experiences

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A non-Buddhist couple in Perth came to the monks, bewildered. Home from hospital with their newborn second son, they asked the older boy to say goodnight to his brother. 'Goodnight, Peter.' And the baby, only a couple of weeks old, replied: 'Goodnight, Paul.' It happened a second time. Ajahn Brahm's explanation: the baby is being reborn and is using his mind, not his brain.

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

that uh couple in Perth, they weren't Buddhist, but they came to see us because, you know, their young child, second boy, just came out out of hospital with the mom, just been born, and they asked the older boy, "Please say goodnight to your brother." And the older boy lent over the the pram and said something like, "Goodnight, Peter." And Peter replied back, "Goodnight, Paul." He was only a couple of weeks old. And then, of course, they were stunned. They're not supposed to be able to speak at that time. But then, uh Paul said once more, "Goodnight, Peter." And Peter said the second time, "Goodnight, Paul." And they were so confused. That's why they came and saw the monks. And thought we could understand. Yeah. Just the baby's being reborn. He's using his mind, not his brain. Brain is not capable of that yet.

## Teaching point

Offered as evidence that mind is separate from brain.

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

Bewildered parents told the monks their two-week-old seemed to answer his brother's 'goodnight'. Ajahn Brahm takes it as a sign of rebirth, and tells families with similar experiences that they're not crazy. Then, as the computer fails, he says something worth keeping. Imperfect things are lovable. So are you.

## Source

- [The Nature of Suffering | Ajahn Brahm | 10 February 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvMmZICc1Y) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 50:42 to 51:44: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvMmZICc1Y&t=3042s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Past Life Personality | Ajahn Brahm | 26 January 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNlm0UmrcZ8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 16:48 to 17:44: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNlm0UmrcZ8&t=1008s
- [Buddhism & Cats | Ajahn Brahm | 1 June 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAvaDXittW4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 4:22 to 6:32: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAvaDXittW4&t=262s
- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 2 July 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F9Mi-jBZfc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:22:11 to 1:23:53: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F9Mi-jBZfc&t=4931s
- [The Essence of Vesak | Ajahn Brahm | 24 May 2013](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBgBiZZA-g8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 3:28 to 5:48: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBgBiZZA-g8&t=208s
- [Vesak Day (Evening) | 19 May 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8FTmDTJLoA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 14:27 to 16:19: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8FTmDTJLoA&t=867s
- [Emboldening the Mind with Fizz & Sparkle (9/14) | Ajahn Brahm & Venerable Canda | 10 December 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-inp5ZUac8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 24:20 to 26:19: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-inp5ZUac8&t=1460s