I can't meditate - my thoughts never stop!

 

AI generated image of a woman sitting under a tree with a monkey in the branches above

"Never believe that body is permanent. Body is like a water bubble. Mind is like a mad monkey."

- Sathya Sai Baba

 

When I first heard the phrase "monkey mind" I immediately understood what it meant! I was a few years in to my meditation journey, and mostly this had consisted of making huge resolutions to meditate for impossible amounts of time, followed by disappointment that I was never able to "empty my mind" or stop thinking. 

But learning that the nature of our minds is to be like a monkey - jumping from thought to thought as a monkey jumps from branch to branch - this was very freeing! That's just my mind being the best mind it can be. It's been running the show for a long time now and absolutely expects that any idea or notion that it flings at me will be given my full attention.

I leaned that I didn't need to try and stop the thoughts, I just had to stop being carried away by them! 

It's not easy to change our thought patterns, especially as we get older, but any time we choose to return to our breath, or a mantra, or a guided meditation and not follow our monkey mind to the next branch (and the next, and the next) then that's a way to exercise our "mindfulness muscle". Becoming less easily led and better able to focus is a great skill to have, particularly in this modern world of screens and distractions.

So don't get too hung up on the desire to empty your mind or stop thinking - it is not the goal of meditation, particularly when you're a beginner. Minds think, your mind is thinking, you can notice that and return to your breathing and not get caught up in the thoughts. And if you do wander off, that's ok, as soon as you notice you just smile and return back to your breath. It's all good. 

I've made a video about this topic, which you're very welcome to check out. 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Location: Greytown, New Zealand

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