# The wet-road skid — crash or swerve

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-wet-road-skid-choice
- Themes: driving, fear, choice, responsibility
- Life situations: close calls, regret

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Wet road; car ahead stops for a pedestrian; Brahm skids and must choose rear-end crash or swerve through the crossing — swerves, barely misses the pedestrian, remembers how close jail was.

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

started skidding. And I remember this moment. I had a choice, a choice of just crashing into the back of the car. I don't know what damage it did to myself. I had enough sort of control to swerve around the car but not stop and just go through the pedestrian crossing without any control, to maybe crashing into the pedestrian. On those moments, you know what I did? I swerved around the car and took my chances. I just missed the pedestrian, thank goodness

## Teaching point

Split-second choices leave no room for the story you rehearse later.

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

Skidding on a wet road behind a stopped car, Ajahn Brahm had a split second: crash into it or swerve through the crossing. He swerved and just missed a pedestrian. He could have ended up in jail. Remember your own near misses. Others' mistakes could have been yours. Acknowledge, forgive, and learn.

## Source

- [Speaking From The Heart Without Fear | Ajahn Brahm | 16-05-2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTUZ-DLPSR4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 31:08 to 31:46: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTUZ-DLPSR4&t=1868s