Monkey trap 猴子陷井

There is a kind of monkey trap used in Asia.

A coconut is hollowed out and attached by a rope to a tree or stake in the ground. At the bottom of the coconut a small slit is made and some sweet food is placed inside. The hole on the bottom is just big enough for the monkey to slide in his open hand, but does not allow for a closed fist to pass out. The monkey smells the sweets, reaches in with his hand to grasp the food and is then unable to withdraw it. The clenched fist won’t pass through the opening.

When the hunters come, the monkey becomes frantic but cannot get away. There is no one keeping that monkey captive, except the force of his own attachment. All that he has to do is open his hand. But so strong is the force of greed in the mind that it is a rare monkey which can let go.

It is the desires and clinging in our minds which keep us trapped. All we need do is open our hands, let go of our selves, our attachements, and be free.

(Excerpt from: "The Experience of Insight" by Joseph Goldstein)


在亚洲有一种用来捉猴子的陷井。

人们把椰子挖空，然后用绳子绑起来接在树上或将它固定在地上。椰子上端留了个小洞，洞里放了一些食物。洞口的大小，恰好只能让猴子空着手伸进去，而无法握着拳伸出来。于是，猴子闻香而来，将它的手伸进去抓食物。理所当然地，手便伸不出来，因为紧握的拳头伸不出洞口。

当猎人来时，猴子惊慌失措，但就是逃不掉。並没有任何人捉着猴子不放。相反地，它是被自己的执着所俘虏。它只需将手放开，便能伸出来。不过，就是内心里贪的欲念所致，鲜少有猴子能放下。

因为内心的欲望与执着，使我们一直受缚。我们唯一要做的，只是将我们的双手松开，放下自我与执着，就能逍遥自在了。

(摘自：Joseph Goldstein 著 The Experience of Insight)