oneworldtalk

TT Ruby · Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 313 Location: Natural Habitat

The Three Morality Monkeys : hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil

Sometimes there is a fourth monkey depicted which symbolises "do no evil" or "hide no evil"

In oriental culture, the wise monkeys originated from various sources and stories such as :
- the 9th Chinese zodiac animal
- the monkey god Hanuman in Indian mythology
- Sun Wukong in Travel to the West
- Japanese Snow Monkey

The philosophy preaches following the natural course, contentment and good living. However, teachings are not meant to be dogmatic and should be applicable to real life.
I believe that when the fourth moneky prevails. The wise monkeys should be able to stand up against evil if necessary instead of pretending that it does not exist.

Little Egret · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 500

Monkeys may be wiser than other 4-legged animals. But, no number of monkeys can be wiser than a human being. Gone is he as a human if he descends to the level of monkeys, or any animals.

How can you learn from the monkeys who cannot speak any language that humans know? All they are good at is to imitate what you do and snatch what you give.

Hot Chilly · Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 670 Location: Tropics

Taming the Monkey Mind

by Venerable Thubten Chodron ©

An Excerpt:

"Who is imprisoning us in suffering? Your mother? Your father? Your boss? The person who cut you off on the highway? Are they the ones who are imprisoning you in suffering?

No! We are our own jail-keeper. We construct the prison, we put ourselves inside the cell, we lock it up and throw away the key. And then we blame the world for it."

-------------------------------------------------------------

There are things the monkey could learn from the higher order of human beings would are more disciplined and strong in areas of reasoning and organization.
However, there are also things humans could learn from monkeys - it's agility, creativity, spontaneity.
Taming the Monkey Mind is a way for humans to understand themselves better. Besides the symbolism (not just literal sense) of the monkey,
We do have to start somewhere in the journey of self discovery. We should apply an open mind to improve our relationships with people around us.

TT Ruby · Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 313 Location: Natural Habitat

Thanks, Hot Chilly. Those who take everything literally and seriously may not get the message.
Ever heard of fables, mythology, stories that teach humans how to live better?
Using imagery, subtle references, animals, plants, supernatural, etc may be more effective because very often humans may not want to recognise and identify with their flaws.

Little Egret · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 500

Fables and mythology must never be taken for real life events or happenings. Fables are just made-up stories told to little children before they fall asleep at night. Mythology is a collection of myths, or a set of widely held but exaggerated or false stories or beliefs. Often they are used by adults to entertain one another at parties or at gatherings, to see who can tell the most falsehoods. People who still use fables and myths to conduct their lives must be the remnants of the old school in ancient times. I’m surprised they still exist today.

Back to the monkeys!

Monkeys see, monkeys do. That is why when we feed employees peanuts, we get monkeys!

If some monkeys can teach, or show, humans how to live better lives, then, they must have been fed essence of chicken, or “Red Bull”, that some monkeys may prefer.

In some restaurants in the East, they do offer monkey’s brain on special request! This is only for those who think they can become as ‘smart’ (or as stupid, I should say) as the monkeys after eating it.

TT Ruby · Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 313 Location: Natural Habitat

Boy, you're s o o..... serious. Whatever suits you. Some people don't appreciate fables, Shakespeare, culture, or even animal kingdom documentaries ... missing something?

I've heard the monkey joke : Durai fed "peanuts" in the millions ... and cleared of false invoice ...

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Crime/Story/A1Story20080722-78150.html

I seldom eat meat and certainly not organs. Sorry to disappoint - but I'm not interested in the physical things. Hope you'd understand.

Little Egret · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 500

I hope you talk sense sometimes and not fables all the time. You’re beginning to talk and behave like a joker, not to be taken seriously, because you cannot be too serious unlike city dwellers like us.

We are surrounded by physical things. If you have no interest in physical things how do you survive with your fables, Shakespeare and animal culture alone, unless you’re a hermit in a mountain cave somewhere? There, you have the air to breathe, dew drops to quench your thirst and grass to eat like in the animal kingdom and monkeys to give you company. But, there are no cars, no motorbikes and no bicycles to transport you around, no newspapers, no TV and no computers to mess around. I just wonder how on earth you can keep in touch with the forum.

A joker too may have a place on this earth whether in the mountains or in the plains, just as the neurotic and the less-advantaged have. They are human beings too.

But, eating vegetables alone is unhealthy without the input of proteins in the meat. Strangely enough, vegetarians can also get heart attacks like meat eaters do. So, beware.

TT Ruby · Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 313 Location: Natural Habitat

Little Egret, "little" does not mean none. Your comprehension has been marred by prejudice. Thank you for your concern. I do eat meat but your graphic details are off putting and irrelevant to our discussion. That was what I meant by physical. What about pertinent questions I've raised which have been evaded time and again with distractive discourses.

A person who relaxes and jokes occasionally does not make him / her a full time joker. What can be worse than being too sense, lacking in sense of humor and full of concept of self righteousness. Take the example of a vessel believing it is full and could no longer absorb anything no matter how beneficial it may be. Anyone with basic common sense and appreciation of literature would have understood. Knowing when to apply analogies to the real world is probably not within everyone ability as I've realized.

XP · Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 642 Location: Beautiful Island

We do not have to overextend ourselves. Maybe it's not the appropriate time, stage and context to get across one's views due to differences in beliefs, education and experiences. Patience and compassion are crucial components in the art of persuasion. At this point, even as no compromise can be reached, an agreement to disagree and attempts to understand differences will suffice.

Little Egret · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 500

I need to make myself clear on the use of language here.

TT Ruby’s comprehension of English used here in the forum is obviously different from mine. In the first place she did not use the word "little" and had used the word “seldom” and now she says “little” is what she meant. Looks like a word twister, more embracing than a tongue twister!

In any case, the two words “seldom” and “little” convey different meanings altogether. My understanding of “seldom” is something that hardly happens or maybe once or twice in a blue moon, while “little” means small bites at a time, and could be as often as daily.

If people use such words interchangeably without prior notice, I can only surmise that they do not say what they mean, or they do not mean what they say, given that they understand the language well. I would call such people jokers for want of a better name. It cannot be termed prejudice, because prejudice is only applied to someone who only safeguards his own opinion and rejects opinions of others.

I’m sure my understanding of the English language is as good as anyone here, unless of course his message is conveyed with double meanings that some people sometimes do. I will then have no part in engaging in such double talk.

If someone wants to joke and make some fun, do so by all means, but don’t let him be offended when the same joke or fun that he has made bounces back on him. For those who cannot stand jokes, then they should refrain from making jokes of others as a camouflage for humour.

One must always understand it has to be a two-way traffic.

TT Ruby · Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 313 Location: Natural Habitat

It is normal to explain using different words all with good intentions. As long as the meaning of my message is clear to readers, it does not matter if the random individual is jumpy and picky.
In the vocabulary of Little Egret, anyone who disagrees with you are deemed jokers. Hope you'd follow the advice of a two-way traffic. Those who knows not what humility is would continue to insist. I don't have luxury of time for bickering. Please excuse me.

Little Egret · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 500

Neither do I with people who can’t communicate in clear English, yet claim to project ‘good intentions’ and ‘humility’. What an insincere and dishonest stance!