# The three-metre dugite in the shade of his hut

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-dugite-shading-by-hut
- Themes: fearlessness, animals, kindness, safety
- Life situations: encountering dangerous animals, fear of snakes, living in nature

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

On retreat at Serpentine, Ajahn Brahm hears kangaroos fleeing as a huge, highly venomous dugite approaches while he washes his bowl. He says hello and carries on; it lies in the shade along his hut wall (so he knows it was three metres long) — facing away, totally at ease.

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

that big dugite, he was, I think, 2.7 meters long because it was a hot day, and he just wanted to shade under the side of the hut I was living in, the kuti, and because I built that I knew the dimensions so I know 2.7 meters long, and as soon as he came, the kangaroos alerted me, they were running out of the way, afraid of this huge little, no, huge little, a huge snake, and he came, and he looked at me, and he was, I was in striking distance, he just looked at me, and I looked at him, and wished him well and just carried on washing my bowl, and then the next thing I knew, I turned around, and he was pointing in the other direction, he realised he was okay with me, I was okay with him, and he just wanted some shade, that's all, on a hot day.

## Teaching point

Give animals a sense of safety and respect and they won't harm you.

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

A three-metre dugite slid up while Ajahn Brahm washed his bowl. He said hello, carried on, and found it stretched out in the shade of his hut, facing away, at ease. Calm respect tends to be returned. Keep sensible distance from dangerous creatures, yet notice how much of the threat comes from panic.

## Source

- [How to Be Happy in Solitude | Ajahn Brahm | 1 February 2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e-XqXPvmFo) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 46:57 to 47:56: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e-XqXPvmFo&t=2817s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Positive Perspective and Acceptance | Ajahn Brahm | 3 June 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J5YVDTB1bE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 48:43 to 49:39: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J5YVDTB1bE&t=2923s
- [No Fear | Ajahn Brahm | 20-05-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIMWm5JnNrE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 4:00 to 5:06: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIMWm5JnNrE&t=240s
- [Importance of Giving | Ajahn Brahm | 24 April 2020](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzDe0ZdN4DE) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 8:31 to 10:02: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzDe0ZdN4DE&t=511s
- [Living a Happy and Peaceful Life | Ajahn Brahm | 10 July 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_17-u_j6w9Q) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 38:30 to 39:17: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_17-u_j6w9Q&t=2310s
- [Stress and Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 12 July 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNJGg_XVfvo) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 22:46 to 24:51: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNJGg_XVfvo&t=1366s
- [Power of Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 15 November 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e552Auru2Ow) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 26:36 to 28:47: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e552Auru2Ow&t=1596s
- [Appreciation | Ajahn Brahm | 29 November 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaBYSDBj37E) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 34:56 to 35:12: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaBYSDBj37E&t=2096s