Oxherding

I. Searching for the Ox
Alone in the wilderness, lost in the jungle,
the child is searching, searching!
The swelling waters, the far-away mountains,
and the unending path;
Exhausted and in despair, knowimg not
where to go,
Only hearing the evening cicadas singing in
the maple-woods.

II. Seeing the Traces
By the stream and under the trees, scattered
are the traces of the lost;
The sweet-scented grasses are growing
thick -- did she find the way?
However remote over the hills and far
away the beast may wander,
it's nose reaches the heavens and none
can conceal it.

III. Seeing the Ox
On a yonder branch perches a nightengale
cheerfully singing;
The sun is warm, and a soothing breeze
blows on

On the bank the willows
are green;
The ox is there all by himself, nowhere
is he to hide himself;

The splendid head decorated with stately
horns like a duplicatous Unicorn

\-- what painter can
reproduce him?

All these lifetimes seem to flow together, like droplets of water making
Rainbows and oceans and streams...

IV Catching the Ox

With all the energy the child can muster
she has at last taken hold of the ox:
But how wild his will, how
ungovernable his power!

V At times he struts up a plateau,
When Lo! he is lost again in a
misty unpenetrable mountain-pass.
This ox is hard to herd or follow.

BUT!, When the ox is properly tended to,
with appropriate attention and love
he will grow pure and docile;
Without a chain, nothing binding, he will
by himself be her leader and her guide
and her followerV. Herding the Ox


VI. Coming Home on the Ox's Back

Riding on the Ox's back, they leisurely
wend their way home;
Enveloped in the evening mist,

How tunefully the beautiful flute notes
vanish away into the utter stillness
of vanquished time

Singing a ditty, beating time,
Their dear hearts filled with joy
Indescribably so!

That they are now ones of those who
truly know,
Need it be told?

Do you see the Ox, Mayflow?

Originally Posted by Humm

Do you see the Ox, Mayflow?

Well yeah, why else would I write and post this? Granted, though this is something I learned to think about through the ten Oxherding pictures of Zen. I always like to learn stuff and think about it, and explore it in my own light.

[psychoslice]

How about eating the OX lol.

Originally Posted by psychoslice

How about eating the OX lol.

What's your favorite recipe?

...I mean... How DARE you Psychoslice!?!

Originally Posted by psychoslice

How about eating the OX lol.

Interesting question, Psycho. What do you think happens when you eat something?

Originally Posted by Mayflow

Interesting question, Psycho. What do you think happens when you eat something?

It becomes part of you?

[psychoslice]

Originally Posted by Mayflow

Interesting question, Psycho. What do you think happens when you eat something?

I have become one with the Source that lead me.

[psychoslice]

Originally Posted by Humm

It becomes part of you?

Hey, you read my mind lol.

Originally Posted by Humm

It becomes part of you?

I suppose it becomes a part of you?