“The Story of Monkeys”

By Tsa Zen Moore/Translated by Evelyn Lee

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I was born in the year of Monkey by Chinese zodiac signs, and I like to 
hear about stories of monkeys.

When I was little, at circus time my vision would be fixed on the 
performing moneys. Although the monkeys looked funny, they were very cute.

Recently, I read about the story of Amazon monkeys. A zoologist brought two monkeys from the Amazons. One monkey was big and strong and the other monkey was small and weak. They were kept in a cage separately. Everyday, he fed them on schedule; he observed and recorded their habits.

After a year the big monkey died mysteriously. In order to continue the study and observation of the monkeys, the zoologist asked the people to bring back another monkey. This monkey was even bigger than the one that died. But in less than six months he died too. To find out the real reason, he did the autopsy on the two dead monkeys, but from the head to the tail he could not find what caused the death of the two monkeys.

Latter on, he went back to the Amazon River where he started to study the groups of monkeys. He discovered that the big monkeys were socially active and they were congenial to the other monkeys. When the other monkeys found some food, they would share with these big monkeys. He further noticed that these big monkeys seldom had quiet time. Whenever and wherever possible, these big monkeys would be in the group of other monkeys, laughing, playing and chasing the other monkeys. However, when these kind of active monkeys were captured, they would not live for more than a year. On the other hand, those quiet monkeys who like to bathe in the sunshine and closed their eyes and enjoyed the warmth from the sun; because they were not socially active, they did not get to enjoy the food from the other monkeys. For that reason these monkeys were smaller and weaker. When they were captured they could live better and longer.

     The zoologist came out with a conclusion that for the monkeys, the lack of social activity is a handicap whereas the lack of solitude is also trouble.

     The above description of the life of monkeys holds true for us human beings too!

     To get use to one kind of environment is a handicap for another environment. It is just like typing using computer after a while, if you hand write, many words would look different. To me I think a socially active person should also find solitude time to ponder on philosophy of life. This way, we will not be lost.

     One day, out of a blue, my friend called me from a far distance. He told me that he wanted to share a story of monkeys, a Japanese story of monkeys; this is the oriental culture about the philosophy of life.

     There are three monkeys, one is “Not listening”, one is “Not speaking”and the other is “Not seeing”.
    

The “Not listening” monkey would cover his both ears refusing to hear any gossips. Whatever the other people were talking about let them be! If one cannot block the mouth of others, then the best way is to cover one’s ears. This sounds like a good solution. If you don’s listen, you will not be distressed.
    

The “Not Speaking” monkey would cross his both arms like an “X.” and cover his mouth. The wise don’t speak carelessly. Failure comes speaking too much. Sometimes power comes from good oral communication, but if a person loves to hog on all conversations and be boastful, his power will come to nothing. Speak whenever appropriate and don’t speak when you ought not to speak. Close your mouth and your power will be held longer. Speak with words of strengthening and encouragement and speak less harmful words. Less talk, less troubles; more talk, more troubles. The secret of life is base on how well you can use your tongue wisely. This “Not Speaking” monkey knows the secret of a successful life, he is a wise monkey.

     The “Not Seeing” monkey covers his both eyes. The ratio of eyes area is relatively small on the face, but it can communicate like the mouth. The saying of “The eyes are the windows of our soul” holds very true. A person understands “Out of sight, out of mind” or anything discourteous, don’t see. If you see too much what you should not see, it will hurt your mind. A Jewish proverb, “Don’t see the jar, see what is inside the jar”. This is also the teaching of the Bible,” God does not judge by external appearance.”
    

Living in this crooked world, not listening, not speaking and not 
seeing may sound pessimistic, but it is a lot better than listening to words 
that hurt the souls!