Meditation, Monkey Brain and Mind Chatter

invicta March 11, 2023 at 23:41 1500 views 5 comments
Our minds want to keep busy or have something to respond to like external stimuli or wait in anticipation for something to happen such as a response to a social media post or other such things as inner rhetoric etc.

This is often referred to as our monkey brain. I was briefly researching this area of interest as user @Manuel was struggling with the concept of the ever present but elusive now (in another thread)

The thing is the NOW is only as elusive as you wish it to be.

The aim of meditation is simply this, to let go.

Any tips from seasoned monks are welcome on this subject …

Comments (5)

Manuel March 12, 2023 at 03:45 #788392
Reply to invicta

I'm sorry - I was not aware I was having a particular issue with the elusive now. Just the same issues most other philosophers have pointed out - so unless you have some very unique perspective on the issue, don't assume I'm having much problems.

You seem to be enlightened somehow, which is good for you, I suppose. But unless you can state concisely how your position renders you better prepared to discuss this issue - of which I'm quite generally very skeptical, with good reason - then I feel I won't be able to follow such sage views.
180 Proof March 12, 2023 at 05:04 #788400
Reply to invicta Good old "monkey brain", we wouldn't be here now to navel gaze or "let go" without its incessant monkeying around. After all, primates chanting mantras are just relaxed primates. :sparkle: :monkey:
invicta March 12, 2023 at 10:17 #788413
Reply to Manuel

Please don’t be sorry. I thought you were struggling grasping the NOW.


Jack Cummins March 16, 2023 at 21:16 #789715
Reply to invicta
I went to meditation this evening in Camden Town. Sometimes if I go to a group meditation I feel unable to switch off. However, what happened today was that I had been really stressed out earlier but became calm on the way so I was able to meditate fairly easy. I think that what happened was that I had worn out my 'monkey brain' so much that I was able to not have its intrusive chatter getting in the way too much.
Paine March 17, 2023 at 00:42 #789745
Reply to invicta
It would be a monkey brain thing to map out what stop chattering meant. You can't be quiet and say what it is.

There are different practices that approach this in a disciplined fashion. I am no kind of guru to chatter about that.

I have seen the benefits of slowing reactions down. When one does not say the first, second, or third thing that pops into your head, you are in a different country, unsure of what surrounds you. People will recognize you are making an effort at that point.