At this point it seems to be relevant to show the process
of purification of mind by Ten-Oxen- Pictures(Hsinniu-t’u)(Fig.
6). One starts to look for the ox. Then sees the tracks
of the ox. Glimpses the ox. Gets hold of the ox. Herds
the ox. Rides the ox home. The ox is forgotten but the
oxherder is still present. Herder and ox both forgotten.
Reverts to the origin and returns to the source. Enters
the marketplace with open hands.
Looking for the ox, seeing the tracks and glimpsing
the ox correspond to understanding the central dynamics.
The ox is the central dynamics or nuclear emotions.
At frist these are negative emotions. Getting hold of
the ox means feeling and being aware of these emotions
without repressing them. Herding the ox means holding
and controlling and beginning to resolve the conflicts,
and the emerging and growing of positive feelings. Riding
the ox home is the acceptance of the problem and reality.
The ox’s white；this means purification, no love and
hate. The ox is forgotten but the oxherder is still
present mean the resolution of conflicts but the self
is not completely transcended. This is the limit of
Western psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. Herder and
ox both forgotten is complete nonattachment or emptiness(sunyata).
This is complete liberation and self-transcendence.
Reverting to the origin and returning to the source
is seeing oneself and reality as it is without projection
or returning to one’s original nature. Entering the
marketplace is to become a Bodhisattva to help others
after solving your own problem.
