I was meditating the other day when something came to my mind about these 3 little fellows.
So we have “See No Evil”, “Speak No Evil” and “Hear No Evil”. There are a few meanings attached to these guys, from outright denial of evil (head in the sand) to a refusal to perform certain actions in case they propagate evil. My own personal focus tends to be a little more on the inner world and I’d like to journey that way, if you’ll consent to walk with me for a minute.
The most obvious meaning is the physical one, literally a “head in the sand” approach, but I feel that this misses the mark. At least, it does for me. I would aim, personally, for the inner eyes, ears and mouth. Not so much a denial of negativity, a refusal to see, but a sense of not allowing your inner self to be blinded, deafened or struck dumb by negativity.
For me there is a sense of trying to see and hear through what may seem to be a simple act of negativity to what underlies it, trying not to let the immediate feelings block that perception. The same applies to our speech, we do need to try to think before we speak, we need to try to avoid perpetuating the negative situation we are faced with. Examples of this can be found in most tabloids, something bad happens and the articles and stories use non-neutral emotive language, exactly what isn’t needed and exactly when it isn’t needed.
I feel the above qualities are certainly found along the eightfold path, it’s why we have to make the effort to awaken, to see clearly into the moment.
I had not thought of these monkeys in that way. I think your idea makes a lot of sense.
I also thought of another idea when I read your discourse – perhaps the monkeys could represent trying to discipline the ‘monkey mind’: try not be distracted by what you see hear and say. – just stay in the present quiet mind state.
Just a thought. Thank you for posting this food for thought.