# The cat that steals the milk

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-cat-steals-milk
- Themes: generosity, no expectations
- Life situations: feeling unappreciated, caring for family without thanks

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Every morning a cat takes Ajahn Brahm's milk and walks off without thanks; he gives anyway because he loves giving.

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

every morning when I'm having my breakfast the cat comes up to steal my milk. So you know usually I've got enough but sometimes I go without, at least I have half instead of the whole which I usually have. So the cat, so I give to the cat, do I get anything back in return for the cat? No, licks its thing, sniffs and goes away, never says "thank you", not even a meow from the cat, you know what cats are like, so proud. But anyway who cares whether the cat lets me pat it or stroke it or whatever, I don't care, I just love giving.

## Teaching point

“do I get anything back in return for the cat? No … I just love giving.”

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

The cat never says thank you, not even a meow, and still gets the milk every morning. Giving to a cat, a child or a tired partner without keeping score is a quiet way of letting go. When you stop waiting for thanks, there is nothing to be disappointed about, and the giving itself makes you rich.

## Source

- [Four Ways of Letting Go | Ajahn Brahm | 09-04-2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USC5MJVZLy8) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 39:05 to 39:40: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USC5MJVZLy8&t=2345s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Cztery sposoby na to, jak odpuścić - Ajahn Brahm [LEKTOR PL]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXR9emyoJlA) (Sasana.pl) — watch from 39:04 to 39:44: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXR9emyoJlA&t=2344s