# The birds queued — and punished the queue-jumper

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-birds-queue-for-water-bowl
- Themes: animals, nature, fairness, respect, Thailand
- Life situations: needing wonder, learning respect

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Near the Burmese border in hot season he put out a water bowl by a knothole. Birds of different sizes lined up in a queue; when one jumped the queue the others piled on, pecked it away, then re-formed in the same order.

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

to see all these birds of different sizes and species line up in a queue. Have you ever seen birds queuing? I have. And it was true. That's what they did. There are maybe eight or nine birds, maybe a dozen at the best, you know, and they were big ones, small ones, and they were sitting there just waiting until the one in front finished and then the next one would actually come in. And of course, it is fascinating. And then there was always every afternoon one bird would come in and would actually jump the queue and try and get in there first. Couldn't wait to have a bath or have a drink. Weird. But you know what the other birds would do? They would all get out of queue, jump on that Q jumper, [laughter] pick him and beat him and whatever. And that Q jumper would fly away. And then all those birds would queue up in exactly the order they were before. [laughter] It's unbelievable. Absolutely true. And so what that really did was, you know, increase your respect

## Teaching point

Even birds show a rough justice — respect grows when you watch carefully.

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

In the hot season near the Burmese border, Ajahn Brahm put out water and watched birds queue to drink. When one pushed in, the others chased it off, then lined up again in the same order. Watching closely deepened his respect for animals. They understand more than we think. Treat them kindly.

## Source

- [Getting Along with Difficult Family Members | Ajahn Brahm | 18 June 2021](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SKiukqiAK8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 32:38 to 33:50: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SKiukqiAK8&t=1958s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Living Within Nature | Ajahn Brahm | 22-01-2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y_UCf5seDM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 39:22 to 40:29: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y_UCf5seDM&t=2362s
- [8. Anapanasati - November 2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBlWLPZiLRQ) (BSWA Retreats 2011-15 & Media) — watch from 36:36 to 36:47: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBlWLPZiLRQ&t=2196s