How do we Slow Down Monkey Mind?

The Taoists call our mind «the monkey mind», because it always gets into a lot of mischief, it needs to be active, to do something all the time. 

Taoists learn to observe, using the upper mind to slow down the monkey mind by tricking it. The monkey mind says, «I can do anything», but it is actually our ego saying that. We cannot destroy the monkey mind because it is us. So what do we do? We figure a way to trick it.

During the Taoist practice of meditation, what we actually do is ask the monkey mind to trace the energy channels of the body.

Of course the monkey mind says: «I can do that, no problem». It is reacting to our request to do something because it is being challenged with its ego. It never wants NOT to do something, because that would show that it is inferior, and it always wants to show that it is superior. This is the process of reacting, instead of thinking: «Do I really want to do this or do I NOT want to do this?». That is what is called a conscious choice.

As we go through life, we majorly think with the monkey mind and react; we do things but we never ask ourselves why we should do them, and if we really want to do them. Understanding this, we say to the monkey mind: «Can you trace the 32 energy channels of the body?».

When the monkey mind says «yes» and asks what to do, we respond: «Just sit still and focus internally. Smile down, look down within yourself, and start to feel the first channel of the body, the Functional Channel (also known as he Conception Vessel), by moving the energy down your body and then feel the energy coming up your spine, the Governor Channel (or Governing Vessel)».

So, the monkey mind says, «No problem, I can do this. Let's go».

You close your eyes, and the monkey mind starts to focus within. As you do this, you feel the energy moving down the front of the body and up the spine. This is the Taoist Microcosmic Orbit, the two channels of the body. 

The body starts to open up and you start to focus, using the upper mind to observe instead of think — to sense what you are actually moving. And of course there is nothing there, because it is just energy.

When you give your monkey mind this opportunity to stay active, within the Yang (active energy) comes Yin, or nonactivity. The monkey mind all of a sudden becomes blank, loses consciousness. Slowing down, it enters the separation into the void; and when it enters into the void, there is nothing and everything goes blank.

Thus, for the first time, your monkey mind gets rest and peace as it enters the void into nothingness. Have you ever experienced this feeling of your monkey mind slowing down during meditation?