# The wild horse that kissed the coffin

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-wild-horse-kissed-the-coffin
- Themes: kindness, patience, animals, grief, forgiveness
- Life situations: harsh training, grief, wanting gentler methods

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Gerald in Hong Kong sent a photo-story: a man tamed a wild horse with only kindness and patience — no hitting or starving — until the horse would greet him with a mouth-kiss. When the owner died, the horse came to the coffin and kissed his friend one last time.

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

there was a horse which no one could actually tame a wild horse and he decided to give it a try but not training it by hitting it or starving it or punishing it in any which way but just being patient and being kind and of course it took him a long time but after a while this horse you know would allow him to ride on on the horse's back became like an ordinary horse people thought it could never be they used the word broken that's a terrible word to use to break a horse he just used kindness and patience and this horse you know would always you know be this guy's friend would would greet him you know when he would come home from some other business he would greet him by actually putting his mouth on the on the mouth of this owner was actually kissing him but then unfortunately after so many years the owner died and passed away and this guy in hong kong gerald sent this beautiful photograph with the story of when this guy was in the coffin dead the horse came up and kissed his friend kissed the coffin obviously even that horse recognized that this that was his friend i just gave it one last kiss and this is those sorts of stories

## Teaching point

Kindness and patience can reach even what force cannot; punishment does not make a friend.

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

A man tamed a wild horse with patience alone, never hitting or starving it, until it greeted him with a nuzzle. When he died, the horse came to his coffin and kissed it goodbye. Kindness wins trust that force never can. Be as forgiving with your own past mistakes as with others.

## Source

- [Kindness, Generosity and Forgiveness | Ajahn Brahm | 8 July 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLrhGW7GEjM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 12:26 to 14:13: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLrhGW7GEjM&t=746s