The symbolism of the monkey in Buddhism presents two faces: that of the restless mind, described in ancient teachings, and that of the monkey king, a model of self-giving. You will also discover the meaning and Japanese origin of the three wise monkeys, as well as the meditative gestures that allow one to embrace the monkey mind.
Why is the mind compared to a monkey?
In Buddhist texts, the monkey serves as a mirror of mental activity. It leaps, grasps, releases: this movement resembles that of successive thoughts. The image does not judge the mind. It helps one observe it.
The monkey in Buddhist teachings
In the discourse SN 12.61 of the Saṃyutta Nikāya, the mind is likened to a monkey that releases one branch only to grasp another, endlessly. The discourse SN 47.7 tells another scene: a monkey touches a glue trap and gets stuck further while trying to free itself.
This second account warns against sensory experiences approached without vigilance. In the Theravāda tradition, the Visuddhimagga, a treatise on meditation attributed to Buddhaghosa, uses the image of the monkey to describe the gradual progression of attention.
What does the monkey mind mean?
The monkey is primarily a symbol of the mind's mutable nature. Thoughts and states of consciousness appear and then vanish when in contact with successive objects. It is therefore a moving nature, far beyond a simple inability to concentrate.
The expression "monkey mind" commonly refers to a mind that is alternately drawn by sensations, memories, concerns, and desires. Each Buddhist school interprets it in its own way, without making it a single doctrine.
Embracing thoughts in practice
The monkey of this metaphor is not an enemy to be fought. Its restlessness reveals the mind's movements and the attachments they evoke. The discourse SN 47.7 thus proposes a safe area: the four foundations of mindfulness, namely the body, sensations, mind, and mental phenomena.
In meditation practice, recognizing a thought and returning to the breath is more important than trying to make everything silent. A Buddhist rosary, such as those from the collection of malas, accompanies the recitation of mantras and supports the calming of a restless mind. Slide a bead for each mantra: this progressive use of beads gently brings attention back when it drifts.
What do the three wise monkeys mean?
The three wise monkeys form a Japanese moral motif, distinct from the metaphor of the mutable mind. Their message concerns sight, hearing, and speech. Their story combines several religious currents.
Three gestures, three names
These are three distinct figures, not one monkey that is blind, deaf, and mute. Each has a name and a precise gesture:
- Mizaru: covering the eyes, "not seeing evil."
- Kikazaru: covering the ears, "not hearing evil."
- Iwazaru: covering the mouth, "not speaking evil."
The maxim invites discernment, not the refusal to see, hear, or speak. A handcrafted statuette of the three monkeys remains a moral symbol or a decorative object. It is different from Buddhist ritual objects, such as the bell or the dorje.
The famous Nikkō sculpture
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, the most famous Japanese representation of the three monkeys adorns the second of the eight stalls of the Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō. However, nothing proves that this is the first.
The current complex was rebuilt in 1636, under the Tokugawa Iemitsu shogunate. In Japanese beliefs, the monkey protects horses: its place on a stable holds all its meaning.
Mixed religious influences
The three monkeys originate in a Japanese environment where Shinto, Taoism, and Buddhism meet. The Kōshin cult is evidence of this: according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it involves a nocturnal ceremony every 60 days. An associated belief is that three beings leave the body during sleep to report sins committed.
Some images of the Kōshin place monkeys alongside Shōmen Kongōyasha to represent the avoidance of evil, without an established direct lineage to Nikkō. The Analects of Confucius, book XII, chapter 1, recommend, however, not to see, hear, speak, or do that which is contrary to rites: a moral kinship, not a proven origin.
What virtues does the monkey king embody?
In contrast to the restless mind, another monkey appears in Buddhist stories: a king who protects his people. His figure illuminates a luminous aspect of the animal.
The monkey in the Buddha's past lives
The Jātaka tell of the Buddha's past existences, when he was called a bodhisattva, meaning a being striving for enlightenment. Several of these stories feature a monkey.
- The story: the Mahākapi Jātaka, story no. 407.
- The hero: the future Buddha, in the form of a monkey king.
- The setting: a fruit tree where his group lives.
- The significance: a moral teaching conveyed through the tale.
This monkey king remains a character in a narrative. He transmits virtues, but he does not testify to a universal worship of the monkey in Buddhism.
The rescue of his group
A human king suddenly threatens the monkeys in the tree.
To allow his group to escape, the monkey king forms a bridge with his own body. He thus puts his life at risk.
A symbol of compassion and courage
By protecting others despite the peril, the monkey king becomes a symbol of compassion and courage. The image of the impulsive animal is overshadowed by that of a guide.
His action expresses self-giving and responsibility towards his group. Keep this story in mind on the path of practice when the monkey mind is restless: the two figures complement each other.
The story of the great monkey has also been sculpted in Indian Buddhist art, notably on reliefs from Bhārhut and Sāñcī.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the monk Saichō invent the three wise monkeys?
This attribution belongs to legend and is not historically proven. The most famous Japanese representation, on the second of the eight stalls of the Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō according to the Japan National Tourism Organization, is also not recognized as the first.
Why is the wisdom maxim represented by monkeys?
In Japanese, "saru" means "monkey." The phonetic proximity of this word to the negative forms in "-zaru" of Mizaru, Kikazaru, and Iwazaru helps explain this choice.
What does the Chinese expression "monkey mind" mean?
The "monkey mind" (xin yuan) refers to a mental activity that is difficult to stabilize. A Chinese expression associates it with the horse of intention or thought to evoke this instability.