# Alex the African grey parrot

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-alex-the-parrot
- Themes: animals, science, learning, communication
- Life situations: education, disability

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Psychologists adapting methods for children with learning disabilities teach African grey parrot Alex not party tricks but intelligent vocabulary — Brahm first saw the video years ago.

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

Alex the parrot, A L E X, and parrot is an African grey parrot who was a subject of an experiment, and a kind experiment. Some uh psychologist who had uh knowledge of a way of teaching those with intellectual disabili- disabilities, learning disabilities, how to talk. You know, sometimes kids, it's not they're naughty, but just they have some blockages about learning how to speak the local language. And of course, some of these psychologists have worked out very good techniques in order to teach kids how to speak. Not maybe the normal lessons which other kids have in school, but specialized for them. So, these couple of psychologists over in the United States, they uh tried to teach a parrot how to talk. I don't mean like pieces of eight or uh naughty language. I mean, how to have enough of a vocabulary to be able to use these words intelligently

## Teaching point

Intelligence shows up wherever someone bothers to teach kindly.

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

Psychologists taught Alex, an African grey parrot, real vocabulary, not party tricks. Watching him converse gave Ajahn Brahm goosebumps, especially when Alex said: I'm fed up, can I go now? Koko the gorilla signed even when alone. Animals have minds of their own. Treat them with the respect any thinking being deserves.

## Source

- [Recollecting Past Lives | Ajahn Brahm | 19 April 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_tqHsSBEs0) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 3:23 to 4:53: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_tqHsSBEs0&t=203s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Vesak Day (Afternoon) | 11 May 2025](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T123BDNTy4Q) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 28:50 to 29:41: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T123BDNTy4Q&t=1730s