Anybody lose an ox?

Zen Master Kakuan says hi. He's the guy who solved a big old meditation problem back in the 12th century or so. Ever wonder how far you have gone? How much further it is? You're not alone. All part of the journey. But as soon as you're taking stages of meditation you're talking beginning and end. You're talking goals and the desire to reach them. Which is exactly how you don't get there.

That's why most teachers don't say much about the 'higher/deeper stages' of meditation. Some others see the value of at least explaining the way to the 'springboard states'. Some go further (like Ajarn Brahm in his book about the janas as Theravada Buddhists call the deeper stages) and explain it all as well as they can from a personal point of view.

That comes with a price (don't say I didn't warn you). Now you aren't only going full throttle for your goal; you have an image and an expectation of that goal that you might find working against you. If only there was a road map clear enough to get you on your way, but also vague enough to keep you from chasing a mirage. Well: there is. Enter the Ten Ox-hearding Pictures by Zen Master Kakuan where the quest for mastering the mind is told through the search of a boy for his ox in ten pictures accompanied by verse and (update) commentary.



The boy is you and the ox is your true self. And as you meditate like no body's business day in and out you will slowly progress through all the stages. From meditating in frustration and restlessness, to getting a grip on your mind, to taming your mind, letting go of everything and then coming back to the beginning to do it all again from a new perspective until you can walk freely amongst the people in the village without a care in the world.



Anyway, for your downloading pleasure (just click the images): the Ten Ox-hearding Pictures by Zen Master Kakuan in a higher quality than you can usually find them on the web (They'll look lovely framed). I've even gone as far as to redo the verses a bit to make them less old fashioned and more resonant poetically. Audacious I know. But they are just words. Relax. And more importantly: enjoy!

Update 30/06/08: added the comments to the verses and the pictures. Zen is like the internet: just no good without comments...