# The vet who wept when his dog was hit

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-vet-grief-when-dog-was-hit
- Themes: animals, grief, intuition, connection
- Life situations: pet loss, uncanny timing

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Victorian vet driving to a weekend party is overcome with unexplained grief, pulls over and weeps; later learns his dog was hit by a car at that exact time.

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

vet who finished work early on a Friday afternoon and went to somewhere in the Country of Victoria for a nice weekend party with his friends. So, on the way, maybe two or three hour journey, in the middle of the journey, he was overcome with unexpected intense grief. It was so bad he had to stop his car, park by the side of the road and just weep for about 15 or 20 minutes and he hadn't got a clue why. He just felt like crying and when he pulled himself together, and drove off to this house where he's gonna have the weekend party with his friends, the message was waiting for him. His dog had been hit by a car

## Teaching point

Sometimes the body knows before the phone rings.

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

Driving to a weekend party, a Victorian vet was suddenly overwhelmed with grief and pulled over to weep. When he arrived, the news was waiting: his dog had been hit by a car at that very moment. Ajahn Brahm believes love connects us across distance. Whatever you think of it, cherish those bonds while you can.

## Source

- [Unresolved Issues | Ajahn Brahm | 04-04-2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP0VC-Nx0DA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 48:01 to 48:47: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP0VC-Nx0DA&t=2881s

Other tellings of this story:

- [New Year’s Eve with Ajahn Brahm | 31 December 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4Sqj4h4Jds) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 21:54 to 24:17: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4Sqj4h4Jds&t=1314s