Christopher shares that we do not have monkey minds, we have brilliant creative minds, and our moment by moment experience has a natural speed. He compares the attention of meditation to reading a book you love in a busy bus station, and remembers a group called the big quiet who meditated in Times Square when he lived in New York City. You don't have to focus, it is not intense, you are just reading.
'Not only do we not have monkey minds, we have brilliant creative minds.'
Read more
More from the course
The Halloween Party: Welcome Every Thought in Meditation
2:05
Your Mind Is a Movie Screen: A Guided Practice for Thoughts
2:18
The Ocean Has Layers: Why the First 10 Minutes Feel Busy
1:30
Questions people ask
Do I have a monkey mind?
Christopher says no: we do not have monkey minds, we have brilliant creative minds. There is a natural speed to our moment by moment experience. He notes that the average person can process around 5 images, scenes or thoughts per second, so a busy mind in meditation is simply how we are.
Why does my mind sometimes speed up when I meditate?
Christopher explains that the mind does not always slow down in meditation. Sometimes there is an acceleration, with more images, more sounds and more words, each arriving with sensations and feelings. He calls this normal. It reflects the natural speed of the mind rather than a mistake in your practice.
How can I stay with my practice when my mind is busy?
Use the kind of attention you give a book you enjoy in a busy bus station. You are aware of the people around you, and the book still holds you. Christopher remembers a group in New York City, the Big Quiet, who meditated in Times Square. More in Thoughts Won't Stop During Meditation?