# 'Please tell Julie how much I love her'

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-terminal-lucidity-tell-julie
- Themes: death, love, mind and body
- Life situations: dying parent, bereavement, hospital vigil

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A doctor who attends the Buddhist Society told Ajahn Brahm of a dying patient (he thinks at Royal Perth) who had given a list of close family to call. The patient hadn't been able to speak for hours. As the doctor phoned the daughter — 'Julia or something' — telling her to come quickly, the father opened his eyes, said 'Please tell Julie how much I love her,' closed his eyes and died.

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

I have known so many people comas, dementia haven't known their children for 3 or 4 years last minutes before they pass away Hey John where have you been all this time Mama I have been with you the last few years. Have you? They remember. Clarity at the last moment when the citta taken over rather than the brain. Thank you Ajahn. Terminal lucidity it is called; they even got a name for it

## Teaching point

Offered as an example of 'terminal lucidity' — he argues the mind takes over from the brain at death.

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

A dying man who hadn't spoken for hours opened his eyes as the doctor phoned his daughter, said 'Please tell Julie how much I love her', and died. Ajahn Brahm sees the mind taking over from the brain. Whatever you believe, it's a reminder: say 'I love you' to the people who matter while you still can.

## Source

- [Word of the Buddha (part 9) | Ajahn Brahm | 14 January 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTTz7GS4P6s) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 54:23 to 55:10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTTz7GS4P6s&t=3263s

Other tellings of this story:

- [The Nature of Suffering | Ajahn Brahm | 10 February 2023](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvMmZICc1Y) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 49:17 to 50:23: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvMmZICc1Y&t=2957s
- [The Mind and Brain | Ajahn Brahm | 1st April 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6ZTU-gQPAc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 32:29 to 34:26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6ZTU-gQPAc&t=1949s
- [Buddhism & Cats | Ajahn Brahm | 1 June 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAvaDXittW4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 9:20 to 10:01: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAvaDXittW4&t=560s
- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 2 July 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F9Mi-jBZfc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:25:37 to 1:26:53: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F9Mi-jBZfc&t=5137s
- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 17 March 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnAc8I5jqdo) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:10:01 to 1:11:14: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnAc8I5jqdo&t=4201s