Monkey trap: Tony D’Souza on a metaphor for attachment

‘Whatever we are attached to owns us.’

by Tony D’Souza 10th April 2026

There is a curious device in the far east known as the monkey trap. Made out of clay, it is a round bulbous jar with a long thin neck. Some sweets are placed in the bottom of the jar, and it is tied to a tree. A monkey comes along and, seeing the sweets, reaches down to get them. The problem is that the neck of the jar is too narrow to allow the monkey to withdraw its fist. An inability to let go keeps the monkey trapped.