Monkeys & Cows & Meditation

• Monkeys—–Picture a tree full of monkeys doing what monkeys do: jumping limb to limb, chattering incessantly. That’s your mind and its endless thoughts or “Monkey Mind” for short. It happens. You can’t get rid of the moneys but you want peace and quiet.
• Cows—–Picture a cow chewing and chewing a cud of tasty grass and getting another bite of the same grass and chewing and chewing, over and over. That’s called “Ruminating” and that’s what your mind does when you over think. This is not concentration to solve a problem (constructive). It’s reliving something that is over with (destructive) like picking at a half-healed wound.
• Meditation—–Now picture yourself sitting on a comfy pillow, relaxed, eyes gently closed, breath smooth and even. You watch the monkey thoughts come and go, just letting them be, without reaction. You become aware of repetitive negative images and feelings and realize you are ruminating. BUT …. in between the monkey thoughts and ruminations are periods of silence where the light streams through the leaves of the trees and it’s peaceful.

Now you’re meditating!  Wasn’t that EASY?