oxherding¶
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Undisciplined. The untamed mind is unruly.
- Discipline begins. Preliminary efforts in meditation.
- In harness. The meditator"s mindfulness increases.
- Turns around. The meditation object is clearly seen.
- Tamed. The mental hindrances begin to disappear.
- Unimpeded. Concentration continues joy arises.
- Non-interference. The concentrated mind needs no effort.
- All forgotten. The higher levels of consciousness.
- The solitary moon. Joyfully seeing reality.
- Both vanished. Enlightenment.
One aimlessly pushes the grasses
aside in search.
The rivers are wide,
the mountains far away,
and the path becomes longer.
Exhausted and dispirited,
one hears only the late autumn cicadas
shrilling in the maple woods.
By the water, and under the trees,
there are numerous traces.
Fragrant grasses grow thickly,
but did you see the ox?
Even in the depths
of the distant mountain forest,
How could the upturned nostrils
of the ox be concealed?
A bush warbler sings upon a branch,
warm sun, soft breezes,
green willows on the bank.
Nowhere can the ox escape to hide,
but those majestic horns
are difficult to draw.
With all my energy,
I seize the ox.
His will is strong, and his power endless,
and he cannot be tamed easily.
Sometimes he charges
to the high plateau.
And there he stays,
deep in the mist.
One does not let go of the whip or the rope,
afraid it will stray
and choose the dusty mist.
A well-tended ox becomes gentle,
and even with no rope,
Will follow people
by himself.
Riding the bull, I leisurely
wander toward home.
Exotic flute melodies echo
through sunset clouds.
Each beat and each tune
is indescribably profound.
No words are needed for those
who understand music.
Riding on the ox,
he has come home.
There is no ox there,
and he is at ease.
Although the sun is high,
he is still dreamy.
The whip and rope abandoned
in the thatched hut.
Whip, rope, man, and ox,
all are non-existent.
The blue sky being vast,
no message can be heard,
Just as the snowflake cannot last
in the flaming red furnace.
After this state, one can join
the ancient teachers.
In returning to the fundamentals
and going back to the source,
I had to work so hard.
Perhaps it would be better
to be blind and deaf.
Being in the hut,
I do not see what is outside.
The river flowing tranquilly,
the flower simply being red.
He enters the city barefoot,
with chest exposed.
Covered in dust and ashes,
smiling broadly.
No need for the magic powers
of the gods and immortals.
Just let the dead tree bloom again.