Episode 226 - Tame the Monkey Mind

Episode 226 - Tame the Monkey Mind

From Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox by JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Teacher

March 1, 2026 · 35 min

About this episode

This episode discusses how to manage the monkey mind through mindfulness and breathing techniques.

Register for the free classes, Continuing the Walk for Peace: An Inner Peace Toolkit: https://buddhismforeveryone.com/walk-for-peace-toolkit In this episode, we talk about your monkey. The monkey on your back. You know the one. The brilliant, overachieving, slightly unhinged creature swinging through your mind at 2:00 a.m. reorganizing your life, replaying arguments, drafting emails you will never send. In an old Buddhist story, a man is given a magical monkey by his spiritual teacher. The magical monkey can do anything. Grant any wish. At first, it's amazing. The monkey builds him a palace! But then comes the problem. "Now what?" the monkey asks. "What next?" "More! More!" Day and night, the monkey pesters him. The man can't rest. He can hardly sleep at night. Finally, he returns to the Buddhist master and begs for his help. The master gives him a single curly hair and says, "Have the monkey make this straight." The monkey pulls it straight. It springs back. He pulls it again. It springs back again. The monkey sits down, completely absorbed in concentration. In mindfulness, the monkey becomes peaceful. And the man finally sleeps. That's the secret. You don't get rid of the…

People in this episode

Host: JoAnn Fox

Topics covered

  • monkey mind
  • mindfulness
  • inner peace
  • Buddhism
  • breathing techniques
  • mental clarity

Keywords

  • monkey mind
  • mindfulness
  • breathing
  • inner peace
  • Buddhism
  • mental clarity
  • thoughts

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Buddhism for Everyone

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