Noone ever said getting inside the circle was the goal, I think we're over-analyzing this scenario. In the "monkey mind" story, maybe killing the monkey could be interpreted as your "goal", but even if you achieved it, I don't think your daddy would be happy. These stories look like a matter of choice but all I see is a dead end.

4 days...
done.

I just PM'd you.

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I'ma be what I set out to be, without a doubt undoubtedly, and all those who look down on me I'm tearin down your balcony, no if ands or buts, don't try to ask him why or how can he

In one part of this thread I read kasabi write something along the lines of, If I tell you the answer to this then it will no longer be the answer. I understand that monkey mind means 'unsettled'.

There is a realization that at one point in our life we will be faced with something where whichever path we take in life the outcome is inevitable. We need to accept the facts. How this relates to pickup I dont know and maybe my interpretation is way off.

EDIT: I think i got it since my mind was blown.

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My Journal here-vp590119.html#590119

this story feels hopeless.
i feel zen teachings either never have an answer or the answer is always based on something inside and left to interpretation. there are no absolutes

as for the circles...if i'm going to be hit either way, fuck it, i'm not going to do anything.

I will blackmail the monkey and threaten to kill the monkeys parents if he kills one of mine. Check and mate.

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My Journal here-vp590119.html#590119

Again... The monkey did not threathen you. He didn't say he's going to kill your parents. He gave you simple facts. And also, does it satisfy you, if one of your parents are dead, that the monkey's parents are dead too?

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What I like in life is nothing more but living it.

I have gone around in circles, even questioning the basic elements of life. I have given up and yet this monkey sitting on a branch continues to occasionally slip into my mind. I thought it could be interpreted in many ways thus giving many answers, and yet I still don't understand. Maybe because I am seeking an answer it will never be given to me. But then how will I know when I have the answer?

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I don't know the answer. But I know a bit about Zen koans. You don't have to question the basic elements of life. You need a different thinking pattern. It's hard to explain. But when you imagine something, say a thing as simple as a rock. You only have the vision of the rock in your mind, not the true nature of it. That's what you need for this koan. We should see the true nature of this problem, not just what we think it is. Any answer should be good, that won't result in your parents being dead. But you shouldn't make assumptions, like if you kill every monkey on the world they can survive. The monkey never said that, you only know as much as the monkey told you, and the question is : WHAT WILL YOU DO?

Kasabi told me to meditate but I suck at meditating. If you don't then I think it would be a good idea.

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What I like in life is nothing more but living it.

Guys, I think i got it. The boy isn't me, so why should this problem matter to me? I think what its saying is that even though there are many problems in the world, we must act on our own individual lives instead of trying to fix what we cannot.

EDIT: No matter what, MY parents won't die due to the monkey.

EDIT 2: OMG I GOT IT!!!! Obvs though I won't explain it, but I came across another epiphany. What if we used this as an opener? Everyone goes crazy to figure this out. She won't want to leave.

That's true...
I don't think that's a good idea. I don't want the girl to stay because she's interested in a riddle, I want her to stay because she's interested in me.

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What I like in life is nothing more but living it.

Ok, starting from tonight I'm going to practice daily meditation. Let's just hope I will get to something.

I am finally beginning to understand this!

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My Journal here-vp590119.html#590119

Okay Ive thought about this a lot and I ended up googling it to find out what the 'answer' was.


And I already thought it was that and it didnt give any profound effect on me or anything.

I didn't suddenly just KNOW it was right.

I actually came to that answer after a while but I guess with all things in life; rarely is a small little story going to change your life or beliefs.

Only major action and events ever change you or develop or cause you to transform.

So i guess in that way I did learn something as i type this; only through action will I ever develop.

That should give the monkey enough thinking time to run away...

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When you apply intelligence, anything can be achieved

The monkey is using truisms to influence the boy.

His mother will eventually die
His father will eventually die
Monkey never says when they will die

Kill the monkey that is up to the boy "you".