Mindfulness and the Simile of the Six Animals

Chappanaka Sutra (SN) beautifully illustrates how the mind is hindered by the struggle of the six senses as it is dragged in different directions by the different sense stimuli.

Here the Buddha draws our attention to a simile of six animals having different habits and diverse fields of action tied together in by six ropes. The six animals are a crocodile, a fox, a dog, a bird, a monkey and a snake, a piece of rope is tied to the tail of each of these six animals and the other ends of those ropes are tied together in one knot and the animals are let free. What happens next is simply chaos, the crocodile tries to run to the water, the bird tries to fly in the air, the dog tries to run to a village, the fox tries to flee to a cemetery, the monkey tries to go to the forest, and the snake tries to creep into an anthill. Each animal tries to drag all the other animals to each one’s respective habitat. The animal which becomes stronger at a given time succeeds in moving towards the place it wants to go dragging the others but only until another animal becomes stronger and pull everyone else to where it wants to go.

Now let’s assume that one takes the knotted end of the ropes that binds the animals together and tie them to a post fixed to the ground. As before each animal will still try to go towards its respective habitat but even the strongest one will not succeed now as they all are tied on to a post that is fixed to the ground. After making many attempts the animals will get exhausted and eventually will give up and lie down on the ground.

The Buddha has said, the six senses are constantly seeking gratification in their own spheres like the animals whose tails are tied together but still free to move. In addition the sense that takes the lead usually directs the other senses to follow, in experiencing the objects it encounters like in the case of the animals being dragged by the stronger one. However, as the six animals get restrained when their tails  are tied to the post on ground, Mindfulness meditation helps one to restrain the six senses.