The Parable of Monkeys

Not long ago, a man decided to experiment some facts so he bought some monkeys (5 in number), a cage and some bananas. On the first day, he placed the bananas and one monkey in the cage. As you know monkeys love bananas, the first monkey rushed towards the bananas but as he touched the bananas he was heavily sprayed with water. He scampered away from the bananas for a while but each time he ventured near the bananas he was sprayed with water even during the night. The monkey gave up on the bananas and decided to sleep, while asleep another monkey was brought into the cage. The 2nd monkey saw the bananas, looked at the 1st monkey and said to himself “See monkey! See banana! He must be a fool”. As he moved to touch the bananas, both monkeys were sprayed with water, now the 1st monkey who had been sleeping woke up and was very angry at the new monkey for getting him wet so he gave him the beating of his life. Each attempt of the second monkey was rewarded with a heavy bath and thorough beating.
Two days later a 3rd monkey was introduced to the cage and he exclaimed “See monkeys! See banana! They must be fools” as he moved towards the bananas he was beating blue-black by the other two monkeys and the same thing happened each time he tried. Now 3 days had gone, 3 monkeys staring at a bunch of bananas, yet none could eat. On the 4th day, the 1st two monkeys were removed leaving the third monkey and a new monkey, the 4th was introduced. The same thing happened to him as he thought of eating the bananas, he was beaten. Two days later the last monkey was introduced and as he thought of eating the bananas the 3rd and 4th monkeys beat him blue-black but he managed to ask, “Why are you beating me?” The other monkeys answered him “We do not know but anytime we go near the bananas we were beaten”. The last monkey asked them “Why don’t we try this together?” and with trepidation he went near the bananas, touched it nothing happened, peeled the banana nothing happened, ate one banana nothing happened, as he made to take the 2nd banana the other monkeys rushed at the bananas.
The moral of the story
1. We are the monkeys looking forward to eat the bananas which are a good life, satisfaction, or your dreams. We have been married to tradition all our lives. We don’t know why we do some things but we keep doing it. Our mothers, fathers and friends keep telling us “This is how we do it, you must do it that way”. We keep our old thinking even when the reason is no longer there. The man has died long ago, the water was not been sprayed again but the monkeys kept beating other monkeys. The reason was gone yet the practice continued. This has been the bane of our progress as a nation, people, and continent.
2. Fear factor- it was the fear of getting wet that inspired the beatings, other monkeys never knew but they kept beating. Because someone else has failed in a business does not certify you to fail.
3. We never ask questions- we have always agreed to whatever we are been told without questioning. This is the reason why we may never achieve our most desired dreams. If you ask questions like the last monkey your mind will be opened to certain facts.
Dear friend, you need to change your thinking and extricate yourself from the web of tradition. Ask questions, ask for help and don’t be caged by fear of the unknown. You are blessed.
This post was inspired by a mentor and friend Deolu, thank you very much I’ll fight not to be a sewing machine, ticketing agent or banker”