Taming the Ox of the Mind Essence
by
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The story of The Ten Ox Herding Paintings originated in twelfth century China. Accompanied with poetry and text, these paintings depict the process of going through practice (meditation as a path to enlightenment) divided into ten simple steps.
The paintings adorn the walls of Buddhist temples, the poetry and text are used today in teaching practice. The paintings have been reproduced countless times, and volumes written on the theme. The consensus is that we are all seekers on the same pilgrimage of self-discovery.
A brave young lady named Alice sets off on her pilgrimage, not knowing where, not certain why; and this takes enormous courage that most of us struggle to find. Many of her Wonderland friends gather round offering advice, to help Alice on her journey. Throw in a helping hand from someour Spiritual Masters, Gods, Gurus, Buddhas, Roshis, Philosophers, Poets, Writers and such,and finally Alice may be ready to answer a profound pondering of her creator, Lewis Carroll,when he asks
“Who in the world am I? Ah, that is the great puzzle.”
In the Universe there is a great, huge energy that gives life to all things. No matter what crisis or dilemma we might encounter, it will not last, and we return to this great universal energy. The worlds of heaven and hell are exactly the same; the only difference is the state of mind of those living there. With a slight shift in how this world is used, it could become heaven, or become hell.
In ‘forgetting both person and Ox’, we who have been searching for the light, are able to become, melt and enter into that light in oneness. And then in ‘aspiring to everything’, we return to the origin where there is only that light. We return from there and we become and reflect all the mountains and the trees and the rivers. This is the world of truth, of paradise, of loveliness where there is no prejudice and no differentiation among things…things are exactly as they are.
Now down from our mountain, within our own mind wee give light to every single thing we come in contact with. We have realized our original pure mind, the Buddha nature we are all born with…clearing up all delusion, anger and ignorance…
Now there is only truth
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About the Book
This story of The Ten Ox Herding Paintings originated in twelfth-century China. Accompanied with poetry and text, these paintings depict the process of going through practice (meditation as a path to enlightenment) divided into ten simple steps. The paintings adorn the walls of Buddhist temples; the poetry and text are used today in teaching practice. Countless versions of the paintings exist, and volumes have been written on the theme. The consensus is that we are all seekers on the same pilgrimage of self-discovery. A brave young lady named Alice sets off on her pilgrimage, not knowing where, not certain why. This takes enormous courage that most of us struggle to find. Many of her Wonderland friends gather round, offering advice to help Alice on her journey. Throw in a helping hand from some of our spiritual masters, gods, Buddhas, gurus, roshis, philosophers, poets, and writers, and finally Alice may be ready to answer a profound pondering of her creator, Lewis Carroll, when he asks: “Who in the world am I? Ah, that is the great puzzle.”
About the Author
Not a guru—in fact, not even worthy of a swami’s sandal strap! Not a writer, not an artist, not even a Buddhist. Just a devout Zenaholic dharma bum and Lewis Carroll fan. Heritage worker, living in Broome, Australia, with wife Oh Enlightened One Dharma Bum Mother Fay.