The ‘Monkey Mind’

MIND - the seat of human consciousness - is the most fascinating part of oneself. For, it possesses the power to command each and every movement of the body. It’s the mind that fosters ideas and nourishes them like a caring mother. It’s the source to attain bigger feats in life. Yet, at times, mind plays awfully with thoughts. It creates illusions, confusions, and unsettles the positive energy. This state of unsettled and disturbing thoughts is called the ‘Monkey Mind’. The untamed ‘Monkey Mind’, as per Buddha’s teachings, is like a drunken monkey - never settled, jumping around, clamoring and always chaotic.

 

It’s the most egoistic in the family and cries for attention all the time. It hinders the mind from hearing the real cry to attain peace, wisdom, success, and efficiency to reciprocate to love. It is always in denial of ideas and almost always stifles creativity. It’s complaining all the time, focusing on all the wrongs happening and all that is imaginary and restrains you from realising your dreams. The Monkey Mind, in a nutshell, is always fearful, of love, of relations, of success, of achievement and of life. It sulks all the time. The key to tame this Monkey Mind is to listen to it intently. Let you be the master of this savage monkey. Calm it. Reason its incessant alarms with facts and reassure it that nothing would go wrong. Buddha showed the path of meditation to tame this drunken monkey. The more we try to banish these chattering monkeys out of the mind, the more ferociously they will come back.

 

For, what you resist persists. However, spend some time in meditation, listen to these chatters and calm them down. Mental tranquility can be achieved only when we learn to master the art of calming these unsettling thoughts of negativity, self-doubt and self-loathing. The concept of ‘Be Here Now,’ also comes to the rescue of those trying to tame their Monkey Minds. ‘Being here’ helps to remain in the present - to be more aware of the truth and possibilities of life and to be more mindful. Ultimately, only being mindful can help to consciously bring awareness to the present moment – to the here-and-now experience.