African indigenous hunters have a unique method for catching monkeys.
First, they find a hole just big enough for a monkey’s hand. They place food that monkeys like inside the hole. When a monkey passes by and sees the food, it reaches in to grab it. With its hand full of food, the monkey’s hand gets stuck in the hole. Most monkeys won’t let go of the food and instead try to pull it out from different angles.
When the hunters arrive, the monkey is still struggling and trapped, making it easy for the hunters to catch it.
Many people’s anxiety and suffering stem from holding on to too many things and being unwilling to let go, which prevents them from truly obtaining what they need.
In reality, letting go appropriately allows us to broaden our horizons, take time to adjust ourselves, and better engage in our current work.
The Young Man and the Zen Master: A Lesson in Detachment
Once upon a time, a young man visited a Zen temple to seek guidance from an old Zen master. On his way, he witnessed an interesting sight and decided to test the master. Upon arriving at the temple, he and the master chatted over tea. Suddenly, the young man asked, “What does ‘going round and round’ mean?”
“It’s because the rope hasn’t been cut,” the Zen master replied casually.
The young man was stunned and amazed. He said, “Master, I am surprised that you knew! Today, on my way here, I saw a cow tied to a tree. The cow wanted to go far to graze, but because the rope was through its nose, it kept going round and round, twisting itself without being able to break free. It was quite amusing. I thought that since you hadn’t seen it, you wouldn’t be able to answer. But you answered correctly right away.”
The Zen master laughed and said, “You asked about an event, and I answered with a principle. You asked about a cow tied by a rope and unable to break free; I answered about the mind being entangled by worldly matters and unable to find liberation. One principle can explain many situations.
“A kite, no matter how high it flies, cannot soar into the vast sky because it is tethered by a string. Similarly, what often binds us in life, preventing us from being free? A single win or loss can exhaust us; a gain or loss can cause us great anguish; an exam can keep us tossing and turning; a relationship can tie us in knots.
“For power and money, we run around in circles; for fame and desire, we are constantly entangled. Fame is a rope, desire is a rope, profit is a rope; the attachments and temptations of the world are all ropes. So the Zen master said, ‘All beings are like that cow, bound by many ropes of worries and sufferings, unable to achieve liberation throughout life and death.'”
The Wisdom of Living in the Present
A young monk once asked an old monk, “Master, what did you do when you were young?”
The master replied, “I chopped wood, fetched water, and cooked.”
The young monk asked, “And what do you do now that you’ve attained enlightenment?”
The master said, “I still fetch water, chop wood, and cook.”
The young monk, puzzled, asked, “What’s the difference? It seems like you haven’t made any progress in your entire life.”
The old monk explained, “You’re wrong. There is progress. When I was young, I would think about fetching water while chopping wood, and think about cooking while fetching water. Now that I am enlightened, when I chop wood, I chop wood; when I fetch water, I fetch water; and when I cook, I cook.”
Reflecting on myself, I often feel that I need to do something else while eating to avoid “wasting time.” So, I like to chat with others, watch TV, or think about other things while eating. No wonder I sometimes feel like “I don’t even know what I just ate.”
Enjoying the time spent eating and treating each bite with attention, I savor the sweetness of the rice, the freshness of the vegetables, and the richness of the soup. The world on my taste buds is indeed wonderful, bringing much joy to everyday life.
While walking, I now instinctively let my phone rest and focus on walking, feeling my feet propel my body, enjoying the natural comfort of the breeze, smelling the flowers, hearing the birds, and seeing the colorful flowers, green leaves, and various passersby. The scenery is infinitely beautiful, something I rarely appreciated before. Missing out and becoming numb was inevitable.
This series of practices has gradually cultivated the quality of “focus” in me. I increasingly embrace the concept of “living in the moment.” Of course, I know this is just the beginning; focus is a lifelong practice.
Link: https://peacelilysite.com/2024/05/30/the-monkey-trap-a-lesson-in-letting-go/
Source: https://gospelexpress.id/2023/01/20/%E6%9D%BE%E6%89%8B%E6%94%BE%E4%B8%8B/, http://his.newdu.com/m/view.php?aid=358718， https://www.sohu.com/a/240312612_761892
Peace LiLy 