MEMBER BLOG

One day long ago a young holy man was walking through a forest. As he walked along he saw five moneys sitting in a tree. Each of the monkeys was holding his hands in a different way, and being overcome with curiosity the holy man spoke to five moneys.

“Greetings my friends. Why are you sitting in that tree holding your hands like that?”

Much to the holy man’s surprise, the fifth monkey looked at him and said: “We are the five wise monkeys and we hold our hands this way to teach our wisdom to others." Pointing to the first monkey he said. “This is Mizaru, covering his eyes, so he sees no evil.” Pointing to the second monkey he said. “This is Kikazaru, covering his ears, so he hears no evil,” Pointing to the third monkey he said. “This is Iwazaru, covering his mouth, so he speaks no evil.” Pointing to the fourth monkey he said. “This is Shizaru, crossing his arms, so he does no evil.” Folding his hands once again to his heart, he said. “And my name is Mazaru, I hold my hands over my heart to show compassion.”

The holy man’s surprise quickly turn to anger when he heard these words. “You are not the five wise monkeys, more like the five foolish monkeys. If a person covers his eyes to see no evil, he will also see no good, nor will he be able see any beauty. If a person covers his ears to hear no evil, he will also hear no good, nor will he be able hear any sweet sound. If a person covers his mouth to speak no evil, he will also speak no good, nor will he be able to speak any words of wisdom or love. If a person crosses his arms to do no evil, he will also do no good, nor will he be able to do anything at all. How can one know compassion is needed if he has made himself blind and deaf to the world around him? How can one show compassion if he has made himself mute and handicapped?”

As the holy man finished his triad, the monkeys stood and spoke as one. “We are the five wise monkeys and we hold our hand this way to teach our wisdom to others. You have learned well and now are wiser for it.” Then they began defecating into their hands and flinging it at the holy man as he ran away.