What is “Monkey Mind”?

Monkeys at Fun Fair

Have you ever heard the phrase “Monkey Mind” and wondered exactly what this means?  If you’re new to yoga and meditation, you may be a little confused (just like I was when I first started!).

In a nutshell, “Monkey Mind” describes the constant, internal chatter in our minds.  A monkey is a very restless animal, constantly jumping from one tree to another.  Likewise, our mind is also restless, always jumping back and forth between illogical, unconnected thoughts.  Usually these thoughts jump between the past (regret or guilt) and future (worry or desire), rarely focusing totally on the present moment. 

A good way to tame this wild monkey in our minds is through meditation.  This is a tool that can help quiet the constant chatter in our minds and allow it to rest.  When your mind rests, you reach a blissful state in the present moment.

When you live in the present, you do not have guilt or regret about the past and you don’t worry about the future.  The present moment is where the future and past meet, and your thought frequency is zero or the “no-mind” state.  In this blissful state your consciousness has transcended the mind.

Would you be willing to experiment with meditation to still your mind?

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