# The duck that tried to nest in his afro

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-duck-pulled-afro-hair
- Themes: humour, youth, London, stillness
- Life situations: seeking quiet in a city, embarrassing moments

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Young Brahm with a big curly Hendrix-style afro lies down in a London park; something tugs his hair — a duck harvesting nesting material.

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

Somebody pulling my hair." It was a big f like, you know, my icon at that time was Jimmyi Hendris. I I have changed a lot since that time. Like a big afro hair hairstyle. That's what I had. 60s or 70s. And someone was putting my hair and I turned around. You know what it was? A duck. True. This duck saw my hair. That's really good nesting material

## Teaching point

Even a park nap can become a wildlife encounter when your hair looks like nest lining.

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

Back when he wore a big Hendrix-style afro, Ajahn Brahm napped in a London park and felt a tug: a duck was collecting nesting material. Parks were too busy anyway, so he found quiet corners of Westminster Abbey instead. Everyone needs a hideaway of silence. Find yours, wherever it is.

## Source

- [Finding Stillness | Ajahn Brahm | 5 July 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY7Fu7wEh0Y) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 8:43 to 9:11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY7Fu7wEh0Y&t=523s