During our first visit to Brindaban, we were told not to wear sunglasses. When we asked why, our guide explained that the monkeys might steal them.
Recently we heard about this phenomenon in much greater detail from a friend who lives in that holy city. I’m not sure that I should share the sordid and disturbing details with such refined and genteel readers, but sometimes the raw truth needs to come out. The monkeys are organized into criminal rings. It works this way:
A monkey will snatch your glasses from your face and move to a tree or wall just out of reach. There he will wait for you to ransom your glasses. Apparently, in different districts the ransom demanded varies. In one area it might be a banana, in another a sweet drink, and in yet another an exotic fruit. If the ransom is paid, the hostage glasses are released.
If the hapless victim tries to hold out, the level of threat is raised. First the monkey will start to chew on the frame and then, if more incentive is needed, he will threaten to break the frames. Nor is this the end of the matter. Sometimes a group of five or six monkeys will line up, each demanding a reward before the hostage is freed. So, I will pass on this wise advice: If ever you visit Brindaban, don’t wear your glasses.
There is a spiritual lesson in this. One of the obstacles to meditation is the “monkey mind.” On the battlefield at Kurukshetra, Arjuna’s banner had the image of a monkey. The spiritual explanation is that he had tamed the restless mind. Like the monkeys of Brindaban, the mind is both restless and mischievous. And it is a thief. It steals the peace of deep meditation and chatters away until it is paid its ransom, in this case, for the mind to be pulled away from concentration and into thoughts and desires.
Once one mental-monkey starts chattering, he attracts others from his district (chakra). A thought about money will arouse associated thoughts having to do with wealth, possessions, and security. Those of the second chakra will entice thoughts around relationships and sex. The monkeys from the third chakra are mainly concerned with power, position, and authority. When you find yourself in a mental argument, trying to best someone, it is due to the tribe from the third district. Do these monkey-thoughts demand a reward? Yes! And when we “entertain” them, they receive it: There is actual brain chemistry involved, whereby these kinds of feelings and fantasies stimulate pleasure centers in the brain.
“Spiritual Eye” by Oliver Shantidev Graf
So what is the solution? Again I say, don’t wear sunglasses when you go to Brindaban. When you enter the abode of Krishna at the spiritual eye, look directly into the light. The monkey thoughts can’t bother you when you are with Him in your inner temple. They will soon go back to their own business and leave you alone with the Divine.
In the light,
Nayaswami Jyotish
28 Comments
That actually happened to my mom in Brindaban when we went there a few years ago! A monkey stole her glasses (our guide warned us but she forgot). It jumped on her back , reached forward, pulled them off, then ran up a tree. A nearby kid threw food up to it and it threw down the glasses, which the kid caught and gave back (for a small fee :)). It turns out we were lucky, the guide said sometimes the kids don’t manage to catch them and the monkeys break the glasses when they throw them back down!
Thank you Jyotishji for reminding about the mental monkey. It is so much more powerful than the ones on the Physical plane. It keeps pulling me away from my Krishna’s abode inside .
Thank you for penning it down and for the encouragement to tune into Krishna’s consciousness.
Thank you for this precious and playful post! A few weeks ago, I made a giant step in distancing myself from the monkey mind. Like Nayaswami Devi, I decided to stop opening/answering emails before the morning meditation. The temptation remains, to just get some work done BEFORE sadhana, but it turns out to not be helpful at all. It’s much more important to go straight into one’s spiritual practices and let the monkeys play outside for awhile! This post is a wonderful reminder about our what our true priorities need to be.
Love this thank you :) Funny story with a strong message. I’m actually in the process of creating a presentation about the 3rd ‘district’ calling it ‘The 12th Rib.’
Thank you, I really needed this reminder to center back at the spiritual eye when meditating, even if the monkeys are presenting very beautiful and spiritual thoughts… They are tricky! Blessings to all!
Dear Ji’s
On the lighter vein cautioned not to wear sun Glass at Brindavan, on the other Hand making us to focus inward by controlling Monky Mind.
With Gratitude
R sundararajan
A useful metaphor for keeping
my monkey mind at bay — in
and out of my meditations.
Thank you !
heartfulSoul
THAT WAS FUN!
VERY fun, and deeply inspired and inspiring.
God and Guru bless you that this inspiration keep flowing through you to us!
With love and GREAT gratitude, Shanti
This is a powerful story and lesson to remind me to have my mind be the slave and the heart to leads Thank you for sharing.
Wow, what a wonderful metaphor! This really helps me understand my run-away mind and a new way to work with it. Thanks so much, Jyotish!!
Deeply inspired Jyotishji. Thanks for insiration.
I love the imagery of the monkeys, it is perfect for the scattered mind, and the solution is simple. But, oh how many moments are centered in God compared to our distractions…
Thank you for this fun story. It is easier to remember the message when there is such a story behind it.
:-) !
Dear Jyotish, Wow! This little story at first seemed so very funny! I was laughing with so much cheer! Then as I read on I was so captivated and got really worried about these inner monkeys of my being! I have so many of them! They have stollen all my glasses and have chewed the frames and broken the lenses! The worst part is that they didn’t even steal my glasses, I confess that I gave them the glasses! But now all will be different! Thank you for teaching me how to battle these mischievous monkeys that to me, at first, seemed so very cute! But maybe it’s because I have not been able to see very well! Now all will be different! I have a new set of glasses, will sit with Krishna, and look right into the spiritual eye ~ and all the monkeys will go to sleep! AUM Jai Guru Jai! Master bless you and Devi always. love, Mariana
Thanks! Great story.
I’ve found that, by my second kriya, my monkey mind is usually quiet, often not before.
I enjoyed this so much and on so many levels! It’s wonderful to have these blog posts to read while you and Devi are far away; I feel you very near in the vibration of the words. It almost feels like I’m sitting in the Expanding Light temple, laughing along with you as you tell the story! Such joy. Thank you.
Dear Jyotish Ji,
Thank you . It had such a deep message. Controlling of the Monkey mind and with the guidance of Master’s we will achieve that.
Aum….Prem
I love your teachings. This moved my heart to tears ?
Thank you thank you. Thank you
Dear Jyotishji,
Booyah, you did it again!
Here’s to conquering the MONKEY!
looking directly into the light,
Josette
Jyotish this was funny and brilliantly written. God is so simple. Everything else, so monkey-like and complicated! Thanks for the great read, and the big smile! “Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they will never cease to be amused” : )
Dear Jyotish ji,
Thank you !! Beautifully explained the deeper meaning of monkeys act of stealing.It was fun to read it.Enjoyed it.
Aum
Dear Jyotish ji,
Thank you. So deep and so truthful. “.. Like the monkeys of Brindaban, the mind is both restless and mischievous. And it is a thief. It steals the peace of deep meditation and chatters away..”
Would strive to remember this and look at the center back at the spiritual eye.
Perfect guidance! Thank you!
With Joy,
Kim
Hmm..so heres an idea: invent sunglasses w/ elec. wires in the frames,carry in pocket a small device w/ button that when button is pushed a zapping electrical charge will be sent into the glasses..the criminal monkey will be shocked,startled & release glasses..will also think twice before stealing again,or wont ever do it again! Anti-monkey glasses..only 19.95!
In Hyderabad near Womens’ college bus stop, there is the office of Medical director and in that premises there are many big trees. One big monkey will snatch your spectacles and then hop on to the top portion of bus stop and from there will jump on to the adjoining wall. If you show some bananas it will promptly return your spectacles and leave them safe at an accessible place. This is my personal experience. Monkeys are monkeys. Is it not?
Blessed are the thoughts
Blessed are the monkeys
Your inner self learns a way to interact with the playfulness of the thoughts
Your soul seeks the knowledge of the everlasting
Thank you Jyotishji
Blessed art thou
Dhruva