# The crab with a limp

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Analogy
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-chah-crab-with-a-limp
- Themes: wisdom, independence, questioning, teachers
- Life situations: following a teacher, conformity, parenting by example

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Ajahn Chah's last teaching before he stopped teaching, acted out with his hands: a crab with a wonky leg tells its babies, 'I walk with a limp; don't you walk like me.' But all the baby crabs walk with a limp, just like their mother. Ajahn Brahm: don't be a clone of your teacher — think and investigate for yourself.

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

he would get his hands out, and imitate a crab with a lame leg. So, once there was a crab with a wonky leg, and it always walked with a limp, and it told his little baby crabs, he said, "Look, I've got a bad leg. That's why I walk with a limp. Don't you walk like me." But all the baby crabs also walked with a limp, just like their mummy. They were just sheep. And he said, "Don't do that".

## Teaching point

Don't imitate a teacher's flaws; find out for yourself.

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

Ajahn Chah's last teaching was a mime: a crab with a limp tells her babies not to walk like her, and they all limp anyway. Ajahn Brahm doesn't want clones either. Learn from your teachers, parents and heroes, but think for yourself. When everyone thinks the same, no one is thinking at all.

## Source

- [Wisdom and Stupidity | Ajahn Brahm | 04-02-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbOShAIwNJA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 17:13 to 17:45: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbOShAIwNJA&t=1033s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Tradition and Truth | Ajahn Brahm | 14-05-2010](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xn6RMT6qZ4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 26:52 to 27:29: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xn6RMT6qZ4&t=1612s
- [MN113: Sappurisa Sutta - The Skilful Person | Ajahn Brahm | 13 December 2015](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgoF_1KXjfc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:12:42 to 1:13:18: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgoF_1KXjfc&t=4362s