There’s a common story in mindfulness circles about the unique and clever way they catch monkeys in India. The hunter uses a coconut as the trap. He cuts a hole in the coconut just big enough for a monkey to put its hand through. On the opposite end of the coconut two small holes are drilled allowing a wire to be connected which is then tied to a tree. A banana is placed inside the hole of the coconut and the hunters then move out of site. Soon the monkey climbs down the tree to find the hidden treasure. The monkey will commonly place his hand through the hole and grab onto the banana. The hole is designed to be big enough for the open hand to pass through, but too small for the banana clenched hand to escape. Even though all the monkey would have to do is let go of the banana to pull its hand out, most monkeys are not willing to let go of their newly found prized possession.

Despite man’s seemingly infinite intelligence, we too become attached to things that have very little real meaning in life. We hold onto the memories of the past and possibilities of the future, sacrificing life’s gift of the here and now.