How to use the Monkey Mind Meditation agent skill

What does the monkey-mind-meditation skill make the agent do?

The skill frames the inner monologue, which it calls 'monkey mind', as an out-of-control program rather than as 'you'. Its core method is observation: when you notice a thought, you step back and examine it, asking why you are having it and whether it needs action right now.

The skill suggests labelling each thought as fear-based, desire-based or neutral to create distance from it. It also offers a simple daily sitting practice that begins at 10 to 20 minutes and works up toward an hour, and a weekly journaling routine for old emotions that come up.

• Debug mode: examine each thought as if you were watching a program run.
• Label thoughts as fear, desire or neutral to build distance.
• Daily sitting practice: sit at a fixed time, observe without resisting, for 60 days.
• Weekly emotional inbox: write down surfacing emotions and mark them as handled or pending.

How do you install the monkey-mind-meditation skill?

The skill is distributed as a ZIP file from the page where you found this guide. Download the ZIP and unzip it into one of two locations: your personal skills folder at ~/.claude/skills/, or a project-level .claude/skills/ folder inside the project you are working in.

If you use the Claude apps instead, you can upload the skill through the settings menu under Settings → Capabilities → Skills. Use the personal folder if you want the skill available across your work, and the project folder if you only want it in one project.

• Option 1: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use.
• Option 2: unzip into .claude/skills/ inside a specific project.
• Option 3: upload the skill in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

How do you trigger the skill with natural requests?

You do not need a special command. The skill is meant to be called when your request matches its topic, so describe what is happening in your own words. The skill's listed trigger phrases include 'can't stop thinking', 'anxiety', 'meditation', 'focus' and 'monkey mind', and it also responds to Chinese phrases such as 冥想, 焦虑 and 脑子停不下来.

Be specific about the situation. A request like 'my head won't stop at night' or 'how do I start meditating' gives the agent more to work with than a single word.

• 'My mind won't stop at night. Can you help me calm down?'
• 'I keep replaying the same worry. How do I get distance from it?'
• 'Does meditation help? How do I start?'
• 'I can't stop thinking about something embarrassing I said. Help.'

What does a typical session look like?

When the skill is triggered, the agent works through its practice steps with you. For a racing mind, it will suggest switching to debug mode: pause when you notice you are ruminating or daydreaming and ask yourself why you have this thought right now.

The source gives an example of this method. While brushing his teeth, the author caught himself daydreaming about a future podcast interview, questioned why he was thinking about the future, and returned his attention to the toothbrush. The skill's point is that a thought loses its grip once you notice it.

What does the skill need, and what are its safety notes?

The source lists no requirements beyond the skill itself. It does not run scripts and does not use the network. The package contains three files: SKILL.md, which holds the instructions, test-prompts.json, and test-results.md.

The instructions in SKILL.md are written in Chinese. The skill is licensed under MIT. The skill is reflective guidance and is not a substitute for professional care.

• Requires: nothing listed in the source.
• Runs scripts: no.
• Uses network: no.
• Files: SKILL.md, test-prompts.json, test-results.md.
• Licence: MIT.

When should you not use this skill?

The skill itself says not to use it during an acute mental health crisis or a severe depressive episode. In those cases, seek professional care first, because meditation cannot replace treatment. It also says not to use it when you need to act immediately. Observing a thought can delay necessary action, so if the thought points to a real problem such as a fire or a deadline, deal with that first.

The source also warns against expecting too much. It says meditation does not give you sudden control over your inner state, and that outcomes vary between individuals. The author's daily-hour goal is demanding, and the source acknowledges that it is too high for most people.

• Acute mental health crises or severe depression: seek professional care first.
• Situations that need immediate practical action, such as a deadline or emergency.
• Expecting guaranteed or supernatural results.

What tips help the practice work?

Start small. The source's own starting point is 10 to 20 minutes of daily sitting, and the hour is a long-term target. Consistency over the 60-day period matters more than length in the first weeks.

Pair the skill with related skills if you want more context. The source lists happiness-skill, screen-detox and rational-buddhism as skills that work alongside it. Screen-detox handles outside stimuli, while this skill handles inner chatter.

• Begin with 10 to 20 minutes a day at the same time.
• Use the label step (fear, desire or neutral) when a thought keeps returning.
• Keep a weekly journal to process old emotions that surface.
• Use screen-detox for external distractions and rational-buddhism for the philosophy behind the practice.