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The Way of the Heart--
Journeys of Transformation
Paul Beirne
Seeking the Ox
- The search has begun
- The ego-self, dimly aware of its hidden, original nature, sets out on the internal journey towards its source
- It is not the source that has gone astray
- It is the searcher who is lost.
Discovering the Tracks
- The Tracks of the Ox are spotted
- The footprints are an invitation to continue
- Following them, step by step, may lead to the source
- Yet the journey is fraught with pitfalls and dangers.
Sighting the Ox
- At last the Ox is seen
- Perseverance is rewarded
- The light at the end of the dark tunnel is recognized for what it is. . . a magnet drawing the searcher toward it.
Catching the Ox
- Catching the Ox is not an easy task
- Its fiery nature is difficult to control
- Restraints are necessary to curb Its instinctive quest for freedom
- Its brute power and strength are unpredictable
Taming the Ox
- Thoughts flow naturally, one after another
- The nature of the original mind/heart is realized
- The searcher can now distinguish that which is real and that which is delusion.
Riding the Ox Home
- The struggle is over
- Harmony, tranquility and joy flow from the reunion of the mind/heart with the source of all existence
- Thoughts originate unsullied and flow freely
- Each action is complete in itself.
The Ox Forgotten, the Self is Alone
- The Oxherd realizes his/her true identity and forgets the Ox
- It is nothing other than his/her original, true self
- Distinction is meaningless
The Ox and the Self are Forgotten
- Whip, rope, seeker and sought all merge into emptiness
- The duality of subject and object, of self and reality is overcome and transcended
- Emptiness, "No thing" remains
- This is the moment of complete awakening, when "even space collapses".
Returning to the Source
- At the point of origin—The Source–everything is experienced just as it is
- Undistracted, whole, aware and tranquil, the mind/heart, realizes the "suchness" of things.
In the Market Place with Open Arms
- The Oxherd enters the marketplace muddied and covered in dust
- Yet the Oxherd's pure enlightened self, of its very nature shines forth, bringing withered trees back to life.
These photos below to Talk 2 & 3
Yongdam Pavilion in Mount Kumi, where Suun,
the founder of Dong-hak meditated
and experienced enlightenment.
A portrait of Su-un inside Yongdan Pavilion
and the Chinese character for 'Turtle',
which is all that remains of Su-un's writings.
Chi k ikum chi won wi dae gang
Si Cheonju cho hwa cheong yeong se pul mang man sa chi
Ultimate energy now within I long for it to pour into all living things
Bearing the Lord of Heaven, I shall become one with all creation
Remembering(the Lord) forever I shall discern the essence of all things
The Mystical Talisman: the Yeong-bu
He is the Way
Follow Him in the Land of Unlikeness
You will see rare beasts
And have unique adventures
He is the Truth
Seek Him in the Kingdom of Anxiety
You will come to a great city
That has expected your return for years.
He is the Life
Love Him in the World of the Flesh
And at your marriage
All its occasions shall dance for joy.
A Christmas Oratorio
W. H. Auden
Next - Tranformation of the Heart Talk 1
Acknowledgements:
Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching
Translated, with introduction, by D.C. Lau
Penguin Classics series, first published 1963
Images taken from photographs of David Mason
http://san-shin.net/Jincheon-Seongjusan-Seongrim-sa.html
follow link also to David's San-Shin website
Note there are another set of 10 Ox Paintings at this link
