Attack of the Monkey Mind!

Hi, I'm Randall Garrett, and this is the third post in my new blog series, "You've Got Nirvana". Today, we're going to dive in and explore Monkey Mind.

So, we're all familiar with these wild and out of control aspects of our mental activity. The name itself comes to us from Zen Buddhism, which equates the restlessness and uncontrolled aspects of the unaware mind with the capricious nature of monkeys.

Monkey Mind usually strikes when we are overloaded with stress and activity. But, what is most interesting is that it sometimes hits in delayed fashion. That is, when we finally find time to rest in our busy schedule and become still, that is exactly when we are hit by the chaotic voices and thoughts bouncing around in our heads.

I am currently in the busiest time of the year in relation to my work schedule, and as such, my meditation practice is holding on for dear life. And of course, in those circumstances, the mind monkeys love to come out and play. It just so happens that their favorite time for mischief is during the night, when I wake up from a few hours of sound sleep, and there is nothing else available to distract me from them. They also love to show up when I'm showering and getting ready for the new day.


All the conversations and conflicts from my recent past pop up in those moments, bouncing around in my head and creating completely new and imaginary scenarios. I often find myself lost in these thoughts, but then thankfully, am able to recognize what is happening and come back into awareness.


The first method I recommend for dealing with Monkey Mind is this: when that moment of awareness rises, stay there as long as you can. Recognize what is happening, talk to your monkeys and tell them you enjoy watching them play, but that you are also onto their little game. Being thankful and expressing gratitude for your awareness is another way to extend that moment and quiet the monkeys.


Another technique I practice is to put a song with a positive and upbeat feeling onto repeat play on my playlist, preferably one with catchy words to sing along to. This works to reprogram the mind, distracting it from the wild thoughts by bringing its attention to the song, functioning in much the same way as a traditional mantra. It doesn't have to be a devotional song of any sort, just something that you connect with and like to sing along to. This can be a really effective way to channel the bouncing thoughts in your head in a more positive direction.


And lastly, getting back to the tried and true technique of spending time in quiet and meditation. Whether this means sitting on a cushion, walking in nature, or writing reflectively in your journal, all of these are great ways to settle the activity in your mind.

During bouts of Monkey Mind, you may notice that your out of control thoughts come to the forefront when you do become still, so try think of this as a great opportunity to practice awareness, by picturing them as little monkeys jumping around in your head. Have a good laugh and let them know you're enjoying watching them.


Thank you for reading my new blog, and for watching your mind monkeys at play! I look forward to hearing your experiences as you raise your own awareness and begin to see them grow quiet.