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Monkey Chatter
lobster
Crusty Veteran
in Mindfulness
As we know the Monkey Mind controls us. What to do? Here are my tips, be glad to hear yours:
- Put monkey in a cage with skilful distractions
- Relax into discipline change
- Leave the cage open
2
Comments
Calm with doses of meditation. Gently tease out the emotional hang-ups. Bring peace and equanimity.
Be present. Keep the monkey quiet by feeding it blissful silence. Moment, by moment.
Labelling it the monkey mind or something similar seems like a good first step in de-identifying with the thought stream. Once we stop identifying with it, we can better make use of it because it is a very handy tool if we can learn to put it down.
Same with our phones, lol.
"Hang on, I've go another call coming in...."
I like @Davids comment.
Part of our attention/consciousness is dictated by input for example gibbering in symbiosis with our social apps/phones/tvs etc.
So in a sense we formally cage our monkey with mindfulness and/or meditation …
My mind was once full of noisy monkeys who really liked to chat-
never stopping for a minute even when I sat…
However when I focused upon the breath when monkey chatter became unkind
The monkeys had a little grumble then departed quickly from the mind
The monkeys are always welcome back now the mind's no longer their zoo
But on their best behaviour for they know what mindfulness can do
I do like all sentient beings, even monkeys who like to chat-
but they can take their gossip elsewhere-for I’ve had enough of that
Not unlike myself, the monkey is getting old and tired and does not jabber so much as she was once accustomed to do. He is also, perhaps, getting wiser - if I can use that term - and not everything she says can be dismissed out of hand, but must - from time to time - be mindfully examined.
@lobster - what did you mean by "leave the cage open"? My monkey perked up her ears at that, and implored me to ask about it.
@Fosdick
https://coaching-journey.com/coaching-story-monkey-trap/
The Buddha in her 'discipline cage' is neither trapped nor going anywhere even if doing walking meditation.
https://unfetteredmind.org/tilopas-advice/
Sitting with all the monkey chatter can become overwhelming at times
However with a bit of training/taming
between those monkeys and those parrots..But the macaws cancel them all out.