Being Mindful Stories

Story · Ajahn Brahm

The orphan chicken that says quack

As told by Ajahn Brahm in Growing from Difficulties | Ajahn Brahm | 3 April 2020

1 min read

The story — as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

there was a real um chicken. It was a poor little chicken when he was born. was orphaned. So, it was adopted by a mother duck. This is true. I've got the paper somewhere in sometimes. Adopted by a family of ducks. And this little chicken goes quack- quack. It's a chicken. That's its species. That's what it is. But it goes quack quack. So, there is I've got evidence there is one chicken in this world at least who goes quack quack

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 51:41 (to 52:23)

A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

After years of his chicken-or-duck story, someone sent Ajahn Brahm proof of a chicken raised by ducks that quacks. So a quack doesn't make a duck. When you disagree with someone you love, connect first. Once they feel heard, they can hear you. Put harmony first, and walk closer to the truth together.

In brief (our summary)

After years of the chicken-or-duck story, people sent him evidence: an orphaned chicken raised by ducks that goes quack quack — so a quack does not prove a duck.

Teaching point

Even the sound you trust can belong to another species.

When this story may help

  • arguing over labels
  • needing less certainty

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Growing from Difficulties | Ajahn Brahm | 3 April 2020 · 2020-04-03 · ▶ watch from 51:41 to 52:23 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

2 other tellings of this story

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned.

The narrative is Ajahn Brahm's own telling, quoted from the talk captions. The summary and reflection are Being Mindful Stories's editorial notes. Please credit the teacher and link the original talk. Markdown version

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