# The preceptor's snake in the lap

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-preceptor-snake-in-lap
- Themes: fear, meditation, animals, peace
- Life situations: sudden fright, deep meditation

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Ajahn Brahm's preceptor, later acting Sangharaja of Thailand, came out of deep meditation in a Koh Samui coconut grove to find a snake coiled in his lap. He felt no fear, watched it for ten or fifteen minutes, and it uncoiled and slithered away.

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

he would meditate in a coconut grove. And he said once he had a nice deep meditation in the coconut grove and that when he came out of the meditation he saw a snake coiled up in his lap. Now, what would you feel if you came out of meditation at 8:00 and you find a big snake had been caught up in your lap? How would you react? And this monk, he was was my preceptor and he became the acting sangaraju of Thailand with lots of responsibility. And this coconut grove was in in the island of Got Samoy when that was not a famous place where tourists went to. That was his his hometown in there. But he said the amazing thing was he was so peaceful when he came out and opened his eyes. He saw the the snake in his lap called up very happy and he had no fear at all. And that was really surprising to him. He thought how can this happen? No fear. And of course he just watched the snake for about 10 or 15 minutes and then the snake just uncoiled and just slithered away with you can imagine gratitude simply because he had no fear.

## Teaching point

Deep peace can remove fear so thoroughly that even a snake is no threat.

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

Coming out of deep meditation, Ajahn Brahm's preceptor found a snake coiled in his lap. He felt no fear at all, watched it for a while, and it slithered away. Deep calm can be a kind of protection. When you meet something frightening, steadiness often serves you far better than panic.

## Source

- [Confidence, Fear and Anxiety | Ajahn Brahm | 28 January 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnYwHoYJID8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:09:16 to 1:10:45: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnYwHoYJID8&t=4156s

Other tellings of this story:

- [The Nature of the Mind | Ajahn Brahm | 3 May 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HhV-6wQdJ8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 54:14 to 54:56: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HhV-6wQdJ8&t=3254s
- [Kindness is Important in Buddhist Communities | Ajahn Brahm | 11 February 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-4nWSXSgVk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:20:05 to 1:20:39: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-4nWSXSgVk&t=4805s
- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 29 April 2017](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWwQiFPqTtw) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:02:52 to 1:03:34: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWwQiFPqTtw&t=3772s
- [Unconditional Love | Ajahn Brahm | 14 February 2025](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEv5jWHdXhQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 36:00 to 37:24: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEv5jWHdXhQ&t=2160s
- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 9 March 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tslWqVAiHxA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:09:02 to 1:09:33: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tslWqVAiHxA&t=4142s
- [Effortless Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 30 October 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrxbtSV3gZ8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 37:48 to 39:21: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrxbtSV3gZ8&t=2268s
- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 12th March 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjzNflvPv8Q) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:14:15 to 1:15:01: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjzNflvPv8Q&t=4455s
- [Word of the Buddha (Part 13) | Ajahn Brahm | 25 February 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45_wDE-pZFU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 56:16 to 57:42: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45_wDE-pZFU&t=3376s