For those who have never been to Vrindavan, the monkeys in this small town roam wild and free. They are fearless and will try at any moment to get something to eat by stealing bags or other items right from peoples hands. They will enter houses and help themselves. They are most famous here for taking glasses right off peoples faces, jumping up to the nearest rooftop to chew until they receive some fruit in exchange.
The mind is often compared to a monkey, jumping here and there looking for something to enjoy. We should be careful of both kinds of monkeys.
I hold my glasses tightly
beneath the folds of my sari
fearful that a Vrindavan monkey
may jump on my shoulders
and steal them for barter.
I hold my japa beads carefully
within the practice of sadhana
least the monkey of my mind
will jump here and there
and take my thoughts away from Krishna.
I hold my life together
with reading the Gita
least the monkey of anxiety
ambush my day
and block me from depending on Krishna.
I hold my heart in openness
with good friends and teachers
so that the monkeys of doubt and fear
don’t steal from me
the opportunity of finding the truth.
I hold my hands outstretched
asking for help
so the monkeys of pride and false ego
don’t hide from me
the reality of my relationship with Krishna.
The monkeys of Vrindavan are here to stay, as is our energetic, restless monkey mind. Always close by and ready to take our thoughts and actions to all the wrong places, we should fear the power of the mind as we fear the Vrindavan monkeys. Mindfulness connected to Krishna is a practice to be embraced. It will save our life.
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