| 1. The Search for the Bull
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| | Comment: Mediocrity is gone. Mind is
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| In the pasture of this world, I endlessly
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| | clear of limitation. I seek no state of
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| push aside the tall grasses in search of
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| | enlightenment.
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| the bull. Following unnamed rivers, lost
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| | Neither do I remain where no
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| upon the interpenetrating paths of
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| | enlightenment exists. Since I linger in
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| distant mountains, My strength failing
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| | neither condition, eyes cannot see me. If
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| and my vitality exhausted, I cannot find
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| | hundreds of birds strew my path with
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| the bull. I only hear the locusts
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| | flowers, such praise would be
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| chirring through the forest at night
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| | meaningless.
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| Comment: The bull never has been lost.
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| | 9. Reaching the Source
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| What need is there to search? Only
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| | Too many steps have been taken returning
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| because of separation from my true
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| | to the root and the source. Better to
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| nature, I fail to find him. In the
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| | have been blind and deaf from the
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| confusion of the senses I lose even his
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| | beginning! Dwelling in one's true abode,
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| tracks. Far from home, I see many
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| | unconcerned with that without -- The
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| cross-roads, but which way is the right
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| | river flows tranquilly on and the flowers
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| one I know not. Greed and fear, good and
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| | are red.
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| bad, entangle me.
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| | Comment: From the beginning, truth is
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| 2. Discovering the Footprints
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| | clear. Poised in silence, I observe the
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| Along the riverbank under the trees, I
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| | forms of integration and disintegration.
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| discover footprints! Even under the
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| | One who is not attached to "form" need
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| fragrant grass I see his prints. Deep in
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| | not be "reformed." The water is emerald,
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| remote mountains they are found. These
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| | the mountain is indigo, and I see that
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| traces no more can be hidden than one's
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| | which is creating and that which is
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| nose, looking heavenward.
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| | destroying.ten bullsten bullsten bulls
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| Comment: Understanding the teaching, I
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| | 10. In the World
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| see the footprints of the bull. Then I
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| | Barefooted and naked of breast, I mingle
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| learn that, just as many utensils are
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| | with the people of the world. My clothes
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| made from one metal, so too are myriad
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| | are ragged and dust-laden, and I am ever
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| entities made of the fabric of self.
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| | blissful. I use no magic to extend my
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| Unless I discriminate, how will I
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| | life; Now, before me, the dead trees
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| perceive the true from the untrue? Not
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| | become alive.
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| yet having entered the gate, nevertheless
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| | Comment: Inside my gate, a thousand sages
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| I have discerned the path.
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| | do not know me. The beauty of my garden
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| 3. Perceiving the Bull
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| | is invisible. Why should one search for
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| I hear the song of the nightingale. The
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| | the footprints of the patriarchs? I go to
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| sun is warm, the wind is mild, willows
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| | the market place with my wine bottle and
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| are green along the shore,
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| | return home with my staff. I visit the
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| Here no bull can hide! What artist can
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| | wineshop and the market, and everyone I
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| draw that massive head, those majestic
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| | look upon becomes enlightened.ten bulls
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| horns?
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| | OTHER ZEN STORIES
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| Comment: When one hears the voice, one
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| | Noticing that his father was growing old,
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| can sense its source. As soon as the six
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| | the son of a burglar asked his father to
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| senses merge, the gate is entered.
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| | teach him the trade so that he could
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| Wherever one enters one sees the head of
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| | carry on the family business after his
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| the bull! This unity is like salt in
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| | father had retired.
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| water, like colour in dyestuff. The
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| | The father agreed, and that night they
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| slightest thing is not apart from
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| | broke into a house together.
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| self.ten bullsten bullsten bulls
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| | Opening a large chest the father told his
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| 4. Catching the Bull
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| | son to go in and pick out the clothing.
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| I seize him with a terrific struggle. His
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| | As soon as the boy was inside, the father
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| great will and power are inexhaustible.
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| | locked the chest and then made a lot of
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| He charges to the high plateau far above
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| | noise so that the whole house was
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| the cloud-mists, Or in an impenetrable
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| | aroused. Then he slipped quietly away.
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| ravine he stands.
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| | Locked inside the chest the boy was
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| Comment: He dwelt in the forest a long
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| | angry, terrified, and puzzled as to how
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| time, but I caught him today! Infatuation
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| | he was going to get out. Then an idea
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| for scenery interferes with his
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| | flashed to him- he made a noise like a
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| direction. Longing for sweeter grass, he
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| | cat. The family told a maid to take a
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| wanders away. His mind still is stubborn
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| | candle and examine the chest. When the
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| and unbridled. If I wish him to submit, I
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| | lid was unlocked the boy jumped out, blew
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| must raise my whip.
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| | the candle, pushed his way past the
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| 5. Taming the Bull
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| | astonished maid, and ran out. The people
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| The whip and rope are necessary, Else he
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| | ran after him. Noticing a well by the
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| might stray off down some dusty road.
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| | side of the road the boy threw in a large
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| Being well trained, he becomes naturally
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| | stone, then hid in the darkness. The
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| gentle. Then, unfettered, he obeys his
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| | pursuers gathered around the well trying
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| master.
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| | to see the burglar drowning himself.
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| Comment: When one thought arises, another
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| | When the boy got home he was very angry
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| thought follows. When the first thought
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| | at his father and he tried to tell him
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| springs from enlightenment, all
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| | the story; but the father said: 'Don't
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| subsequent thoughts are true. Through
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| | bother to tell me the details, you are
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| delusion, one makes everything untrue.
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| | here- you have learned the art.'
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| Delusion is not caused by objectivity; it
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| | During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an
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| is the result of subjectivity. Hold the
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| | invading army would quickly sweep into a
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| nose-ring tight and do not allow even a
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| | town and take control. In one particular
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| doubt.
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| | village, everyone fled just before the
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| 6. Riding the Bull Home
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| | army arrived - everyone except the Zen
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| Mounting the bull, slowly I return
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| | master.
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| homeward. The voice of my flute intones
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| | Curious about this old fellow, the
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| through the evening. Measuring with
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| | general went to the temple to see for
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| hand-beats the pulsating harmony,
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| | himself what kind of man this master was.
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| I direct the endless rhythm. Whoever
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| | When he wasn't treated with the deference
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| hears this melody will join me.
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| | and submissiveness to which he was
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| Comment: This struggle is over; gain and
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| | accustomed, the general burst into anger.
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| loss are assimilated. I sing the song of
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| | "You fool," he shouted as he reached for
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| the village woodsman, and play the tunes
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| | his sword, "don't you realize you are
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| of the children. Astride the bull, I
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| | standing before a man who could run you
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| observe the clouds above. Onward I go, no
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| | through without blinking an eye!"
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| matter who may wish to call me back.ten
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| | But despite the threat, the master seemed
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| bullsten bullsten bulls
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| | unmoved.
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| 7. The Bull Transcended
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| | "And do you realize," the master replied
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| Astride the bull, I reach home. I am
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| | calmly, "that you are standing before a
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| serene. The bull too can rest. The dawn
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| | man who can be run through without
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| has come. In blissful repose,
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| | blinking an eye?"
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| Within my thatched dwelling I have
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| | A distraught man approached the Zen
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| abandoned the whip and rope.
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| | master.
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| Comment: All is one law, not two. We only
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| | "Please, Master, I feel lost, desperate.
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| make the bull a temporary subject. It is
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| | I don't know who I am.
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| as the relation of rabbit and trap, of
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| | Please, show me my true self!"
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| fish and net. It is as gold and dross, or
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| | But the teacher just looked away without
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| the moon emerging from a cloud. One path
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| | responding.
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| of clear light travels on throughout
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| | The man began to plead and beg, but still
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| endless time.
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| | the master gave no reply.
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| 8. Both Bull and Self Transcended
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| | Finally giving up in frustration, the man
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| Whip, rope, person, and bull -- all merge
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| | turned to leave.
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| in No-Thing. This heaven is so vast no
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| | At that moment the master called out to
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| message can stain it. How may a snowflake
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| | him by name.
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| exist in a raging fire?
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| | "Yes!" the man said as he spun back
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| Here are the footprints of the
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| | around.
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| patriarchs.
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|
