The Mystery of Counting to Four

Hey everyone, Frater Zac here! Today, I want to talk about something fundamental to how we perceive the world and, more importantly, how we can unlock deeper levels of understanding. My goal, as always, is to make this as clear as possible, so by the end, you’ll see why I’m so passionate about helping us all “accommodate the monkey mind” to achieve greater clarity.

First, it’s crucial to grasp a key concept: you operate with two minds. Yes, you have thoughts, but you’re also capable of having thoughts about those thoughts. I know this might sound a bit confusing at first, but hang tight. We’ll walk through this cloud of initial bewilderment together, and I promise, it will make much more sense by the end.

The Two Minds: Monkey Brain & Higher Self

So, two minds. Some traditions call them the “lower mind” and “higher mind,” or “lower cognition” and “higher cognition.” I prefer to call them the Monkey Mind and the Higher Self.

Now, let’s dive into a fascinating aspect of the Monkey Mind: monkeys can only intuitively “count” to four. They don’t have number words or a formal system like “one, two, three.” Instead, their grasp of quantity is immediate and instinctual. If a monkey sees two bananas, it instantly knows there are two. Three bananas? Instantly three. Even four apples? It perceives “four” without conscious effort. This innate recognition helps them quickly assess immediate threats or resources – like knowing to flick off two, three, or four ants.

But here’s the interesting part: when a fifth apple or a fifth ant appears, the monkey’s immediate, intuitive grasp of the quantity breaks down. It can no longer instantly perceive “five.”

The “Four” Threshold: Subitizing and Beyond

There’s a clear boundary in the monkey’s brain between four and five. And guess what? Humans share this same boundary. This isn’t just a quirky animal fact; it’s a fundamental aspect of our perception. This threshold marks the difference between instinctive perception and conceptual thought.

Scientifically, this instant recognition of small quantities is called subitizing. And interestingly, spiritual teachings, like those attributed to the Buddha, have long described this more primitive, reactive aspect of our minds – what I call the “Monkey Mind.”

Here’s the kicker: both the Monkey Mind and our Higher Self are capable of logic and counting beyond four. You can consciously count to a million if you want! But the distinction lies in how you do it. If you have to stop and consciously count “one, two, three…” to figure out a quantity, you’re engaging the Monkey Mind’s analytical processes.

Think about it: when you see three dots, you instantly know it’s three. You don’t count them. My aim is to help you cultivate a level of awareness where you can perceive things beyond the “four” threshold with similar, instantaneous clarity – a sign of engaging your Higher Self.

How Many Can YOU See?

Monkeys rapidly and intuitively perceive up to four items without counting. Humans do the same. This makes me wonder: how many items can you instantly perceive without counting? Take a moment to think about it. Perhaps this intuitive grasp of larger quantities indicates a certain level of higher awareness, a more awakened state.

I’m going to leave you with that thought. I hope any initial confusion you had is starting to settle, and you’re gaining a clearer picture of these concepts. Ase!

To help these ideas really sink in, I’ve picked out a few songs related to this topic. May they get stuck in your ‘monkey head’ as a reminder: once you are awake, don’t fall back asleep, or you might find yourself counting like a kindergartner again! I’ll definitely be sharing more on this and what it means for your journey. So, if you’re ready to step into a higher level of understanding, stay tuned to my posts.