# Newton's plague year was his most fruitful

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-newton-plague-year-discoveries
- Themes: pandemic, solitude, science, opportunity
- Life situations: lockdown, forced isolation, creative block

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Cambridge email during COVID notes the college last fully shut for plague in 1665–66. Isaac Newton left for Lincolnshire to isolate — and later called it one of the most fruitful intellectual times of his life.

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

the previous time they'd shut down totally because of pandemics was during the plagues in the 17th century in 1665 and 1666. That plague just destroyed so many livelihoods. So they had to shut down the college and at that time one of the people at Emanuel no not at Emanuel he was at Trinity College but up at Cambridge University was a gentleman called Sir Isaac Newton and he had to leave the college and go up to Lincolnshire somewhere uh just uh to what we'd call these days socially isolate and that while he was there in his his notes He said this was one of the most fruitful intellectual times of his life. Many of his great discoveries would obviously have happened there when he was away by himself alone

## Teaching point

Forced solitude can become the season when discovery grows.

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

During a plague, the young Isaac Newton left Cambridge to isolate in the countryside, and later called it one of the most fruitful times of his life. Ajahn Brahm shared this during lockdown. Time alone needn't be wasted. Solitude can be a season when understanding grows.

## Source

- [Growing from Difficulties | Ajahn Brahm | 3 April 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0EQZ-nakfo) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 8:43 to 9:50: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0EQZ-nakfo&t=523s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Everybody Can Grow | Ajahn Brahm | 8 April 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4b5FbcpP2s) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 2:10 to 3:00: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4b5FbcpP2s&t=130s