# The live eel in the birthday box

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-eel-birthday-present-for-mother
- Themes: childhood, humour, humanity, non-judgement
- Life situations: idealising teachers, family memories

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Growing up in Acton, West London, when jellied eels and mash were a craze, eight-year-old Peter (Ajahn Brahm) spent his pocket money on a live eel, put it in a shoe box, wrapped it carefully with tape, a bow and a card — 'Happy birthday to mummy... with love from your son Peter, XXX'. His mother almost cried with pride that he'd done it all himself. When she opened it the eel reared up and she screamed; he had already planned where to run and hide for two hours.

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

But but anyway, so you know what naughty Satan A Brah did as a kid, 8-year-old? I just went got some pocket money and I bought an eel. A live one cuz live one I could buy a live one. They didn't ask me what I wanted it for. So, I already had the little shoe box and some wrapping paper, and I put this heel in a shoe box, and I wrapped it up really carefully, as best as an 8-year-old kid could do. Just make sure it's really nicely folded. A nice little tape. And even have the bow to tie it up with a nice bow and a little gift card in a happy birthday to mommy on your birthday with love from your son Peter. That's my name. XXX. And when I haded it to my mother as a surprise. Oh, she was just her heart was almost just exploding with with pride. That's my little kid. And he did it all by himself. And the amazing thing was I actually could pull it off, you know, that without sort of laughing and giving the game away, what was inside. And I remember my mother was almost cry with pride and joy. And if you get a nice present from a a young little kid, 8-year-old, and said, "A I wonder what's inside." when she opened it up and I was looking at her. Ah, what's inside? Oh, surprise, mommy. She was surprised cuz this little eel. As soon as she opened the box, the eel came up right and she screamed so loud. That was where I understood what like an exit strategy was. I'd already planned out where I was going to run and hide for 2 hours.

## Teaching point

Monks and nuns were ordinary, mischievous children too; kindness means not judging people as if they were born perfect.

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

Eight-year-old Peter wrapped a live eel as his mother's birthday present, with a card, a bow and a planned escape route. She was so proud, then screamed. Monks were once mischievous children too. Remember that everyone grew up imperfect. Kindness embraces people; harsh judgment pushes them out.

## Source

- [Learn to be Silent | Ajahn Brahm | 13 April 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw-RV0F1OJw) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 37:33 to 39:37: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw-RV0F1OJw&t=2253s

Other tellings of this story:

- [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 1:11:07 to 1:13:18: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SKiukqiAK8&t=4267s
- [Conflict! | Ajahn Brahm | 14-12-2007](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCSh-2-JkLg) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 41:57 to 43:14: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCSh-2-JkLg&t=2517s
- [Kindness is Important in Buddhist Communities | Ajahn Brahm | 11 February 2022](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-4nWSXSgVk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:24:43 to 1:26:30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-4nWSXSgVk&t=5083s
- [A Buddhist's Valentine | Ajahn Brahm | 14-02-2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4RusDxPXmw) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 33:36 to 35:55: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4RusDxPXmw&t=2016s
- [Teenagers Are Aliens | Ajahn Brahm | 26 October 2012](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSzGDO6RAeQ) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 39:50 to 40:28: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSzGDO6RAeQ&t=2390s
- [Appreciation | Ajahn Brahm | 29 November 2024](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaBYSDBj37E) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 7:27 to 7:54: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaBYSDBj37E&t=447s
- [Happy Buddhamas | Ajahn Brahm | 18-12-2009](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWPI45BNWXc) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 17:36 to 18:32: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWPI45BNWXc&t=1056s
- [Ajahn Brahm's Personal Experience of Grief | Ajahn Brahm | 22 May 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4qA0xho_oM) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 50:46 to 51:06: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4qA0xho_oM&t=3046s