# Thank the burglar for the whiskey

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-thank-burglar-for-whiskey
- Themes: humour, precepts, alcohol, reframing
- Life situations: needing a laugh, loss

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Someone's house is burgled of expensive whiskey; Brahm says thank the burglar — he stopped you breaking precepts — and asks for the burglar's name to give other addresses.

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

burglar came into their house? I said, "What did they steal?" Oh, they stole all these expensive bottles of whiskey. I said, "Oh, thank the burglar." They stopped you breaking your precepts. Thank you, thank you. What a wonderful burglar that is. Can you please get the burglar's name? I can give them the addresses of many other people sitting here today. [laughter] ...so we can relieve them of their alcohol as well

## Teaching point

Even a burglar can be a precept-helper if you look twice.

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

When someone's expensive whiskey was stolen, Ajahn Brahm said: thank the burglar for keeping your precepts, and get his name, I have more addresses. Then he turned to South Korea's ferry tragedy. Even disasters bring communities together, and you grow from that hard wisdom. Whatever happens, look for what can grow.

## Source

- [Speaking From The Heart Without Fear | Ajahn Brahm | 16-05-2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTUZ-DLPSR4) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 27:14 to 27:51: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTUZ-DLPSR4&t=1634s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Transcending Disasters | Ajahn Brahm | 25-02-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk49Udlvlbk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 31:55 to 32:07: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk49Udlvlbk&t=1915s