Written by Aviva Tulasi
People often tell me that they can’t meditate because they have a monkey mind. However, the two aren’t mutually exclusive. A monkey mind can’t stop you from meditating nor does meditating stop the monkey mind. For most people it is present. As Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche so eloquently says, “The monkey mind is neither good nor bad.” Monkey mind is neutral. It is your relationship with the monkey mind that determines its label. Meditation is the perfect time to explore our relationship with our monkey mind and how to befriend the monkey mind.
As you meditate, you remove distractions so you can notice the habits of the mind and where they are coming from. Sometimes, the chatter from the monkey mind takes us away from the present moment, distracting us from what we are doing. Other times, the monkey mind is stirring your emotions and resulting in suffering. Or we might even find that the monkey mind inspires a new creation.
The monkey mind is not an obstacle that needs to be tamed. It is a friend that has lessons. You can’t make friends with someone by fighting with, controlling or pushing them aside. You make friends by being open and receptive. A good friend is one who knows how to honor and listen.
When we meditate we should embrace the opportunity to objectively listen to what the monkey mind has to say. For example, as you are meditating, a memory might pop into your head. Rather than suppressing the thought, you can watch it arise. Maybe you start to notice that you are still holding anger from that time. As you continue to observe the unfolding of the memory, the nature of the anger might become more clear. The ability to be open and welcoming to the thought then gives you an invaluable insight into your thoughts. When we welcome the monkey mind, in the words of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, “the monkey mind is useful and then eventually the monkey mind transforms to wisdom, love, compassion and awareness.” Meditate with the intention of understanding and knowing your friend, the monkey mind.
Click here to Sign Up for one of our group classes. We offer opportunities for you to befriend the monkey mind with meditation and movement. You can join us live in person or online. If our class times don’t fit into your schedule, you can practice using our video library.
In Person Yoga Classes continue at Dogwood Studios.
Dogwood Studios will be hosting Morning Yoga at the Garden Wednesdays at 7:30am starting September 7th. Register using the The North Carolina Botanical Garden website.
In Person option for 10am Mindful Movement and Yoga on Wednesdays will be at The Parlour on Mann’s Chapel.
In Person option for 10am Mindful Movement and Yoga and Group Meditation on Fridays will be at Yoga Shala.
Reach out to the Dogwood Team with any questions at info@dogwoodstudioyoga.com. We are here to help.
Aviva Chaye Tulasi is a team member at Dogwood Studios. She is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT). She applies the teachings of classical yoga to reduce the effects of negative stress and to balance the nervous system. Aviva is available for private sessions. Email Aviva at yogawithtulasi@gmail.com with any questions.
SAM Sather, founder of Dogwood Studios, is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), individualizes the yoga practice with appropriate modifications for participants’ unique bodies and medical histories with a focus on finding calm and improving health. She offers several live, online and in person yoga classes as well as private sessions so you can focus on your needs one-on-one.