Zen 10 Ox-herding pictures: 3- In Harness

Traditional Poem:

Under constant training, the buffalo stops dashing,
following the boy across streams and through clouds.
Not daring to loosen the rope in his hand,
the boy tends the buffalo all day in spite of his fatigue.

My words:

A glimpse of your real face,
do not let go the rope and the whip!
Follow the stream of the lineage,
and the bull will become your friend.

At this stage, our discipline has borne out some fruit, and he have reached a good level of Shamata.

Now it´s easier to pacify the mind, we don´t need to struggle continously with it, but we still need to be VIGILANT, and use the rope of concentration and the whip of mindfulness so the bull follows us gently.

During our meditation, we have reached some INSIGHT into the nature of the Mind, and that is why the head of the bull is white; but it has been only a glimpse of it, that has to transform into full realization.

Using Zen vocabulary, we can say that the SATORI experience has appeared, but it has to be polished. Many practitioners can reach this stage, but if they untie the bull, thinking that they have reached enlightenment, then they will drown in the river of arrogance and self-conceit.

That is why it is very important to have a master who can help you not going astray.