OXHERDING PICTURES
The ten oxherding pictures of Zen Buddhism are symbols to help explain the stages of awakening. A picture is worth a thousand words, and these pictures reveal our life through ten different perspectives. These pictures are not necessarily things to do, they are more examples to show “I am here,” and to help sink into your current part of the process by knowing it is a part. It will also give a glimpse as to the next part coming so form can handle it a little easier. It is not a set of instructions or how-to manual, but a window to where you are so as to not become unnecessarily confused or frightened on the way to realizing our True Self, which of course is no self.
In the first picture a man is searching, he seems to have lost something. He is not sure what, or where to find it. Some pictures have the man facing one way and the ox the other (some do not have the ox at all). The ox is truth, and the ox is never really gone, we have just turned our back on it. We have forgotten while we focus on the material world of gain, fear of loss, beliefs and opinions. Without the absolute, we feel no peace, but most will not want to put any work into looking for what they are.
The second picture has the man seeing footprints on the path, but no sign of the actual ox. He has realized that it does exist, but he still has no idea how to find “it.” Some of the pictures may have many footprints going in many directions. The man begins to search in books, or through religion or philosophy. So the man is not exactly sure what to do. He will start some form of practice, but little will seem to change.
The man has searched for a long time, and in the third picture finally catches a glimpse of the ox in nature. It shows that the wisdom will be found in our day to day existence, sprung from our new found awareness and energy from our solitary practice. It reveals things will happen spontaneously. Something extraordinary has happened, he has caught a glimpse of reality beyond his views, beliefs, habits and patterns. Seeing a glimpse of our True Nature is a stage in enlightenment, but as mentioned there are many stages. Each one is important and opens us to more of true reality. A glimpse is not necessarily fun, but the most frightening thing imaginable (you don’t exist), and many just stop right here. But mind convinces itself it has gone somewhere far, and these people become gurus, making a ton of money off people they make sure never take another step- because their own fear of no self has caused them to hide in false happiness and compassion. In the book “Hoofprints of the Ox,” the author describes awakening as a flash of lightning in a dark forest at night. The flash will illuminate the direct vicinity and allow you to see more clearly than you did before, yet it does not reveal anything of the surrounding forest. I liken this stage to a young child who has eaten a certain food for the first time, but does not know how to cook it themselves.
In the fourth picture the herder has caught the ox, sees it eye to eye. But the ox has been away from us for a long time, so it bucks and tries to escape. This is the mind rebelling against our initial efforts to gain some measure of control over it, so the man must hold the rope tight. If he lets go of the rope the ox will escape again into the dialogue of the mind. The fourth stage is a long stage for most.
In the fifth stage we see the man and ox walking side by side. The man is only lightly holding onto the rope. The ox still wants to graze, so the man has to stay present to be aware of his thoughts, but he has far more control. He does not have to fight with the ox anymore, his attention can keep it rather calm. He has learned how to use his energy and his time more effectively, thus he is saving instead of wasting personal power. He is also now stalking himself constantly, not just for the 30 minutes a day he practices.
The sixth picture has the man riding the ox with no rope at all. He is also playing the flute, showing he is very joyful. The ox no longer needs to be guided, it knows the way on its own. One is finally understanding that all around him is not real like he thought, but just the dream projections of what he is. The world begins to not hold him as much, for how much attachment can really be put on a dream? As one advances beyond the mind they will find more joy, laughter and singing and dancing. Those who are “loosing their mind” can laugh and enjoy life far more than those who are locked in mind and self-importance.
The seventh picture has the man sitting in front of his house. The ox has been forgotten, because the herder is back “as” the ox. Anything in the environment that upset the herder, will just show another part of his ego/I that is left. Up to this point has been the belief that the practice is something that we do, there was a division between things (including practice, us and the ox). They have seen that practice has never taken them to what they are, in fact only distracted them from it. They no longer see the need to do any practice, unless for fun it gives their form kicks in the moment. Mostly they spend time reflecting how stupid they have been their whole life seeking something that can never be found by seeking.
The eighth picture is just an empty circle, symbolizing oneness and enlightenment. The idea of I/me has gone completely. We fully experience a oneness so there is no need for an identity anymore, as personal history has been erased. Words can not even describe this state, thus there are not even words in the circle. Everything just is. Most would think that this is the end of the practice, but this is not so. All the work was just to return to what you are, which is now seen that we never left.
The ninth picture now has no person, and no ox, just nature. Form is back in reality, but sunken into the Absolute. What Is, is again both and neither at the same time. They see the illusion of this reality, and now can act in it differently. It is said that before enlightenment, mountains are mountains. During enlightenment they are no longer mountains, but after they are mountains again. The person will look and perceive the mountain existing in this matrix of reality, but they will also “see beyond” thus know everything’s true nature. Yet even though one can see past the illusion and experience oneness, they do not try and manipulate the world (via magic). The know an apple tree in someone’s yard, or a person’ wife are not really as they seem (just outer aspects of themselves), but they do not take or manipulate the apples or the wife.
In the tenth and final picture, the man has left his cottage and is in the marketplace (the material world of humans). He travels where he wants, thus few can find him. Every place is home to him, and he will appear as if out of a puff of smoke. He looks ragged and shabby in the picture, for he is no longer concerned about appearances. He may appear as a beggar, a master or a geisha girl. Whatever is needed in that moment. He no longer clings to any notion of morality, virtue or compassion for he knows these are just illusions too. He carries a sack in which contains wisdom, freedom, kindness, love or ass kicking. He gives from this bag fully to everyone (like Santa) without expecting anything in return. He helps all, not those he likes, or helps no one at all. He also carries a gourd of wine to show that he will share a drink with others to have talks. He had no need for rules anymore, he denies himself nothing, for he knows every moment will require different actions to pass on his wisdom, for all actions are equal anyway. He does not do such activities for “personal enjoyment” but as a means of connection.
Such a person at this stage will be unrecognisable as awake, because what in fact does awake mean? It is said that if Jesus and Buddha were real beings and if they returned to the earth, no one would believe them because they would appear to ordinary. Even if they added a few powers to their dream toolbox, they would be used quietly and likely not noticed until they had left to go to another town. While they often leave a lot of help in their wake, they may also leave a wave of chaos, whatever is required in that moment. Helping just tends to be more fun, but the chaos thing is fun sometimes too. You know you have found one at this stage by the level of detachment, understanding of the world and self as illusion, and their overall craziness.