100th Monkey
Edited by Margo Ross, from article written by Ken Keyes, Jr.
In 1952, the Japanese monkey, Macaca fuscata, has been observed in the wild for over 30 years. On the island of Koshima scientists were providing monkeys with sweet potatoes dropped in the sand. The monkeys liked the taste of the raw sweet potatoes, but they found the dirt unpleasant.
An 18-month-old female named Imo found she could solve the problem in a nearby stream. She taught this trick to her mother. Her playmates also learned this new way and they taught their mothers, too.
This cultural innovation was gradually picked up by various monkeys before the eyes of the scientists.
Between 1952 and 1958, all the young monkeys learned to wash the sandy sweet potatoes to make them more palatable. Only the adults who imitated their children learned this social improvement. Other adults kept eating the dirty sweet potatoes.
Then something startling took place. In the autumn of 1958, a certain number of Koshima monkeys were washing sweet potatoes - the exact number is not known. For the sake of the point, let us suppose that there were 99 monkeys on Koshima Island who had learned to wash their sweet potatoes. Let's further suppose that morning, the hundredth monkey learned to wash potatoes.
THEN IT HAPPENED!
By that evening almost every monkey in this island tribe was washing sweet potatoes before eating them. The added energy of this hundredth monkey somehow created an ideological breakthrough!
But THEN even MORE amazing: these scientists observed the habit of washing sweet potatoes then spontaneously "traveled" over the sea - colonies of monkeys on other islands, and the mainland troop of monkeys at Takasakiyama, began washing their sweet potatoes! (Lifetide by Lyall Watson, pp. 147-148. Bantam Books 1980. This book gives other fascinating details.)
Thus, when a certain critical number achieves an awareness, this new awareness may be communicated from mind to mind.
Although the exact number may very, the Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon means that when only a limited number of people know of a new way, it may remain the consciousness property of only those people. But there is a point at which if only one more person tunes-in to a new awareness, a field is strengthened so that this awareness is picked up by almost everyone!
Your awareness is needed. You may be the "Hundredth Monkey" . . . . YOU may furnish the added consciousness energy!
Right now, many of the nations of earth are acting like spoiled children who are fighting over marbles. Children forget that their happiness comes not from possession of the marbles, but from the fun of playing together - and from creating the great adventure of life together.
Human love-our heart-to-heart love-is more valuable than anything else in the cosmos. When we give this, we have enough. Without this love in our hearts, nothing will ever be enough Kierkegaard said, ". . . to love human beings is still the only thing worth living for – without that love, you really do not live. Let us challenge our present approaches and rethink old assumptions about what is entirely POSSIBLE!
The next step in our growth as individuals and as a species requires that our minds experience the planetary urgency of letting go of separating mental habits that close our hearts to other people. We are challenged to increase our ability to create with many people the enjoyable experiences of acceptance and cooperation. Individual and species survival means increasing our tolerance, our patience, and our own understanding, so that we do not continue to drive ourselves crazy when people or situations are not the way we want them to be.
With practice, this mental skill of inner flexibility will make us even more effective and powerful as individuals and as a species! You will increase your skill in helping the world when you learn to be mentally flexible. This means being able to constantly blend back into creating an experience of life as a whole with appreciation, cooperativeness and love for the people around you – even when they oppose you.
The conflicting energies in our world are so great today that perhaps we need the "millionth monkey" to project the energy of wholeness and cooperation - of friendship and love, of sharing life on this planet together.
WHATEVER THAT CRITICAL MASS NUMBER IS, YOU ARE NEEDED TO SAVE OUR CIVILIZATION.
So how do we go about saving ourselves?
Above all, be creative - and energetic!
Be informed, hopeful and energetic.
Be vigilant with your thoughts of peace and love.
Sense your power to lift the mood of despair.
Let your enthusiasm seep in and penetrate the collective consciousness!
Meet with people, talk with people, share with people.
Find and support organizations that channel this beautiful energy!
Take a new look at your priorities...Your life will gain meaning and purpose!
Will you accept your share of the responsibility for creating the Hundredth Monkey energy that will change the consciousness of the entire planet?
The change in you is already taking place! And that starts right here - right now!
LIVE THE EXAMPLE - BE THE HUNDREDTH MONKEY!
http://www.indigoanswers.com/monkey_a11.html
