Our thoughts leap from branch to branch, constructing meaning, seeking control—just like a restless monkey. But who are we when the monkey is silent? In this episode, Sensei Michael Brunner explores Shōyōroku Case 72 – Chuyu’s Monkey, unpacking the grasping mind, conditioned perception, and the immediacy of direct experience. Through humor, insight, and Zen wisdom, we examine how to move beyond the mind’s endless chatter and meet life as it truly is.