| I was in early grade school when I had my first | | | | Images and words from the mundane (the |
| visit to the zoo. (This was almost 50 years ago | | | | grocery list) to the traumatic (painful events) |
| before zoos attempted to make the environment | | | | come charging into your mind. Just like the |
| of the animals more "natural.") I was mesmerized | | | | monkeys jumping around in the cage, often crying |
| by the monkeys. There was a cage with a large | | | | out, the images shift and change. |
| number of them jumping around and crying out. | | | | These mental shenanigans come to the surface |
| There was frenetic activity alternating with | | | | because you are no longer distracting yourself. |
| periods of quiet. At times the monkeys sat | | | | These are the worries and concerns in your life |
| around and groomed each other. Then, for no | | | | that prevent you from being in a state of peace. |
| apparent reason, they'd jump up and down | | | | How do you handle the intrusive monkey mind? |
| screaming. | | | | The first step seems counter intuitive. Don't fight |
| When meditating, thoughts usually jump in, out | | | | them. Allow them to come up. They are ready to |
| and around the mind like a monkey in a cage. | | | | be released. The more that are released, the |
| Meditation, a simple process, is complicated by | | | | sooner you will find inner peace. |
| what is called the monkey mind. | | | | You then have two options on how to handle the |
| As you become quieter, the mind begins to jump | | | | thoughts and images that surface. |
| around. It sometimes cries out so loudly you get | | | | One is to gently go back to your mantra. This is a |
| frustrated and want to stop. You will do anything | | | | word, phrase or sound that you use to assist you |
| to quiet the myriad of intrusive thoughts. Your | | | | in going deeper into yourself. Concentrating on |
| choice will probably be to distract yourself from | | | | your breathing is, in a way, a mantra. |
| them by an activity other than meditation. | | | | Another technique is to gently "breathe out" the |
| The process of meditation is simple. | | | | thought or image. Simply imagine your breath |
| 1. Find a quiet place and time. | | | | sending the intrusive constructs away. |
| 2. Turn off all distractions (phone, computer, tv, | | | | Your meditative experience will alternate between |
| radio, kids) | | | | the frenetic activity of the monkeys jumping |
| 3. Focus on your breath, words or sound. | | | | around in their cage, and the quiet of rest. Know |
| The goal is to go deep within yourself, to a place | | | | this is normal. Relax and enjoy. |
| of peace and calm ... but the thoughts interfere. | | | | |