The Sixth Picture | Ox Herding at Morgan's Bay

The sixth picture is called “riding the ox back home.” When we talked about seeing the self-nature for the first time, I used an analogy of spotting a mountain in the distance, but not knowing how far away it was. The mountain refers to our orignal home ─ Buddhahood.

While the kensho experience is seeing one’s Buddha nature, it is not the same as becoming a buddha. But in riding the ox, one is on the path back home.

In the picture, the ox herder is playing a flute. The ox still has a ring through its nose, but there’s no need to hang onto the rein, which is thrown around the ox’s horn. The ox herder doesn’t bother directing the ox, because it is familiar with the way. Here, practice is effortless. The person’s six sense organs are purified. That is to say, when he comes into contact with things in the environment, vexations do not rise. The person is aware of the environment, but the environment does not generate feelings of greed or anger in him.

Someone at this level feels close to all that he sees, hears, or feels. It’s as if the whole world is a Buddha world. Everything is proclaiming the Dharma. The person knows that practice is still necessary. He knows there is a mind that needs cultivation, so he continues to practice. Practice, however, is effortless.

There is no need to encourage the person to practice. Nothing can come between him and practice along the path. In fact, everything he does is practice. When a person reaches this stage, he is safe. Precepts, samadhi and wisdom become part of his being. The person no longer thinks or says, “I need to practice.”

When a person reaches this level, could he do something which is normally considered evil or wrong, and still not be breaking the precepts? For practitioners, it is best to respect and maintain the precepts. In regard to the question I asked, the answer is clear. If samadhi and precepts are one with a person at this level, then he cannot break the precepts. Anyone who commits an unwholesome act would not be at the level of the person in the sixth picture.

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