It's all in the mind

An Indian Brahmin was interested in gaining supernatural powers.


Learning that a monk in Tibet could grant him his wishes, he undertook an arduous journey through the Himalayas to meet him.


The monk told the Brahmin: ‘‘The mantra to gain supernatural powers is simple.


Just say Buddham Sharanam Gachchami, Dhammam Sharanam Gachchami, Sangham Sharanam Gachchami three times, but don’t think of monkeys.’’


Content, the Brahmin thought: ‘‘I am such a learned man. Why should I think of monkeys when I chant the mantra?’’


But when he sat down to chant the mantra, the first thought that came to his mind was that of monkeys. Later, all he could think of was monkeys.


The monkeys roamed all over his consciousness until he lost his peace of mind.


Seeing his condition, the monk smiled: ‘‘If you force your mind to travel in a certain direction, it will go the other way.’’ :)