# I want to be a dog next life

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-want-to-be-a-dog-next-life
- Themes: humour, rebirth, work
- Life situations: needing a laugh, overwork

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Man wants rebirth as a dog: no boss, lie around, good food, free health care — only job is walking the owner once or twice a day.

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

wanted to be a dog in his next life. Why would anybody want to be reborn as a dog? In many Asian countries, calling a person a dog is almost a term of abuse. I don't mean it. This is Asia. And I kind of like dogs and he liked dogs as well. And he said, "Look, think about it. Use reason and logic. I don't know where you've been today. Many of you've been working. You had to get up very early in the morning. You work really hard. You're never enough. You may be having a boss always tells you what to do and tells you off. If you're reborn as a dog you don't have to go to work. Instead, you just lie in the beautiful house all day with nothing to do. You go around playing. You get incredibly good food these days. And you get free health care. And you got no All you have to do The only work you have to do is to take your owner out for a walk once a day or twice a day

## Teaching point

Sometimes the 'lower' rebirth is the one with better conditions.

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

A man announced he wanted to be reborn as a dog: no boss, no taxes, great food, free health care, and the only job is walking your owner. Ajahn Brahm pointed out that Australian dogs get desexed. The man changed his mind. Every life has its catch. Appreciate the one you've got.

## Source

- [Recollecting Past Lives | Ajahn Brahm | 19 April 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_tqHsSBEs0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 12:50 to 14:03: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_tqHsSBEs0&t=770s