The “Monkey Mind” The term “monkey mind” (in Sanskrit often linked to citta vṛtti, the restless fluctuations of the mind) describes a mental state where thoughts jump around uncontrollably — like a monkey leaping from branch to branch, touching nothing for long.
It comes originally from Buddhist teachings, but has been fully adopted into Yoga, especially in traditions that emphasize meditation.
It refers to:
Constant distraction
Internal chatter
Imagined fears
Emotional turbulence
Memory loops
Future fantasies
Impulses and cravings
A Guru to anchor it:Swami Sivananda Saraswati (1887–1963)
He used the analogy often, and described the mind as:
“A monkey, drunk, bitten by a scorpion, and haunted by a ghost.”
— Swami Sivananda
It refers to:
restless
intoxicated
irritated
anxious
he untamed mind.
He taught that unless the mind is trained, it simply reacts, jumps, and pulls you out of the present moment.
According to Yoga
How the Mind Is Tamed
1. Breath as the leash
The monkey mind jumps when breath is irregular.
Slow, intentional breathing calms the nervous system → thoughts quiet down.
It refers to:
Pranayama
Ujjayi breath
Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing)
Sivananda called breath “the remote control of the mind.”
2. One-pointed focus (Dharana)
You give the monkey one branch to hold onto — a mantra, a candle flame, the breath.
The rule is not “don’t think,” but “return to the chosen point every time.”
This repetition trains the mind like training a puppy.
3. Awareness of the chatter
Instead of fighting thoughts, you watch them.
This is like sitting under the tree and letting the monkey jump above you rather than on you.
This is the beginning of:
It refers to:
Witnessing
Detachment
Clear thinking
Emotional balance
4. Discipline (Tapas)
Small daily practices — posture, breath, meditation — gradually domesticate the monkey.
It refers to:
less impulsive
less chaotic
more stable
more obedientSivananda says:
“The mind becomes your servant, not your master.”
In simple termsYoga teaches that the mind is naturally wild, noisy, and unruly.
But with breath, focus, and steady practice, you don’t kill the monkey — you teach it to sit calmly beside you.
How easy it will be to make the mind work with you will depend on the size and strength of your mind.