SEARCHING FOR THE OX
by Sensei Robert Joshin Althouse (c) 2006

'In the pastures of the world, I endlessly push aside the tall grasses in search of the ox.
Following unnamed rivers, lost upon the interpenetrating paths of distant mountains,
My strength failing and my vitality exhausted, I cannot find the ox.
I only hear the locusts chirring through the forests at night.

First Verse from the "Ten Ox-herding Pictures"

There are different versions of what are known as the "Ox-herding Pictures". Some consist of 8 or 12 sets of pictures accompanied by poems. The most common version is a set of 10 pictures compiled by Master K'uon-an. K'uon-an added a verse and commentary to each picture. For this dharma talk, I am using the first verse that accompanies the first picture in K'uon-an's series, called "Searching for the Ox".

These ox-herding pictures illustrate the spiritual development of a student, from the time they enter the Way until they complete their training.

At the Zen Community of Oak Park, we begin this path of training by studying the precepts for about a year. The student concludes this process by taking Jukai, which is a formal ceremony of receiving the precepts which is witnessed by the sangha. Once the student has taken Jukai, they next take up koan study, to wrestle with the great matter at the heart of Zen training. Koan study is not for everyone, so some may also take up other practices, such as Shikantaza.

The first stage of entering the Way is critical. When people first come to the Zen Community for beginning instruction, I always ask them why they have come. I want to know what kind of question they are carrying in their heart; what kind of intention they are bringing with them. Most often the question is not yet fully formed, and part of the process of entering into training is clarifying the intention and question behind why one is entering the Way.

People come to Zen for many different reasons. People often want "peace of mind". Our lives are stressful. So it's a natural expectation to have of Zen. But I find that unless people find a deeper question for entering into Zen practice, they usually don't stick around very long.

So this first Ox-herding verse is pointing at this deep questioning that must be present for one to enter the Way. Zen is a pure and profound spiritual undertaking, and without lighting a fire in one's belly, nothing happens.

So the answer one is looking for is contained in the question. If you have no deep question, you receive no deep awakening either. No one can tell another how to light this fire in themselves. But it is the first challenge faced by the student wishing to enter the Way.

Zen is not a hobby nor is it a cute, clever gimmick that will turn you into a spiritual super star. It is a steep and difficult path of training, that involves real sacrifice and a complete and total commitment. It requires effort to begin. If requires determination to continue.

If it is your good fortune to enter the Way, you may experience other stages of spiritual progress represented in the "Ten Ox Herding Pictures". First you will discover the foot prints of the great beast. Then you may catch it and tame it. Keep training and you can ride it home.

Maezumi Roshi always told me "Just keep going". If you keep going, you may completely let go of the ox and return to the source. Persist in your training and you will enter the market place with gift-bestowing hands.