What about that "monkey mind"...?

By José Blanco
Yes.

More and more I become aware of the constant stream. The processing of thoughts. and, it'd be nice if they were just "thoughts". But no. They are "alerts", such as ..."did you close the door?", "turned off the heater?", "are the payables checked?", "did you update the calendar?", etc., etc. Aaaaaggghhhh!

These internal follow-ups are imposing. And yes: they have been helpful in many occasion. But keeping that constant activity in the 'penthouse' is draining of energy, and the continual "alerts", "responses", reactions, etc., are tiring. So, something has been done about that, thanks to Mac. There is Evernote - a life saver! There is NUMBERS, and PAGES, and Desktop, and Stickies, and Reminders...but...wait..."Reminders" in Mac is just voicing an update that is needed...sorry about that interruption. What? What am I doing?!!! !@#$%^&!!!!

It is the 'same thing'! Now I need to establish a system of follow ups, and a procedure to record what to document and follow up...and...agggghhh!

Brings to mind the voice of a dear friend and ex-Manager, one of my first 'bosses' as I started employment life after college - Mr. Jorge Zayas. He used to ask: "What is worse: (admitting to) forgetting something one needed to "do", or (admitting) not knowing?" Of course, Jorge was going after the famous exculpatory response..."I didn't know"...! I understand that Pablo Coelho has a similar phrase . So maybe this quasi-OCD behavior (!)springs from my years with Jorge, Mr. Zayas, I mean...or...not! Whatever! The point is that, the "control room" is always "in session", even during sleep!

And then, my Yoga practice teaches somewhat of, and points to, a relief for my incessant, unstoppable, ever-present, "un-shut-up-able roommate". "Breathe and go inside. Exhale, calming your heart beat; inhale and open up, relaxing the shoulders". Sweet commands...so nice to go into the quiet that follows a yoga session...it is wonderful! That silence is super neat!

But, is it ok? Hmmm.

Well, I read in "The Joy of Living, Unlocking the Secret & Science of Happiness", by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche - link here and his Facebook page here , that: "...no matter how many thoughts pass through your mind while you are meditating, it's okay. If a hundred thoughts pass through your mind in the space of a minute, you have a hundred supports for meditation." ..." If the crazy monkey inside your head is jumping all over the place, that's wonderful! Just watch the crazy monkey jumping around. Every jump, every thought, every distraction, like every sensory object, is a support for meditation. If you find yourself struggling with a lot of distractions, you can use every distraction as an object of meditation. Then they cease to be distractions and become supports for your meditation practice."

And a further freeing phrase: ..."not to try to hold on to each thought as it arises. Whatever passes through the mind, we should just watch it come and go, lightly and without attachment..." Did it include..."let it go"?

Really? It happens to other people? The same Monkey? Similar? How does Yongey know...? He too?

And...?

What about..."forget or not know, then?"...

...let it go...

Hhhhmmmm! Sweet...!

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