In case you were wondering how to catch a monkey who is creating mischief on your property here is how you do it:
1. Take a pumpkin and cut a hole in it just big enough to scoop out the pulp and place a banana inside. Put that pumpkin out where the monkey will find it.
2. Check on the pumpkin in an hour or so and you will find a monkey with his arm inside holding on to the banana.
3. Now’s your chance – step right up and and take him (and his pumpkin with it’s precious cargo) to the nearest monkey sanctuary. He won’t give you any trouble, he’s going to hang on – protecting his treasure – until he can find a way to get that yummy banana goodness into him. Thank you for being kind to animals.
Sometimes, you are like that little monkey. You’ve got your arm stuck in the pumpkin hanging on to that banana for dear life.
And, even though you let go of the banana sometimes – because, let’s face it you have to go to work, or go grocery shopping, or have lunch with a friend - still, part of your consciousness is stuck inside that pumpkin feeling the upset about what you think you’ve lost.
Maybe you decide to get a little spiritual on that banana and practice some kind of affirmation like, “I’ve let the banana go” every time you think about and feel upset by not having retrieved your special prize. But then, you lie awake at night still thinking about how to solve the banana dilemma.
If your mental space is occupied by the upset of not getting the banana, and you are looking for a way out, you’ve only got one choice. Relinquish the banana. This means to choose to give it up. You can do this when you acknowledge the part of you that would have liked to have eaten THAT banana and at the same time also sees that there are so many bananas to be had. So much life is passing you by while you play life so small as to believe the story that THAT banana is the ONLY thing which will satisfy your craving. Just think of all the goodies you are missing out on while you are so tightly focused upon your banana dilemma.
Peace out,
Robin
P.S. I first read the Monkey story is in this book: The Wind is My Mother: The Life and Teachings of a Native American Shaman by Bear Heart
