[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: Riding the Ox of Mind

[Carolyn Gimian]

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

August 27, 2008

RIDING THE OX OF MIND

There are several levels of mindfulness one can achieve. It is like 
the images shown in the ox-herding pictures from the Zen tradition. 
First, there is a sense of watching yourself (searching for the ox.) 
And then there is a sense that you don't actually have to watch 
yourself, because you can feel your own footprint; (finding the 
footprint of the ox). That is a level of how confident you are with 
yourself. And then as you go along, you begin to feel that you are 
very much in control of everything. (You find the ox and tame it.) 
The sense of being is always present there. You could ride on 
yourself (the ox), and play a flute as you ride along. The sense of 
well-being is so solid, so definite, you can even extend greater 
awareness of, not only the sense of being or body, but the sense of 
well-being, of livelihood -- which leads to further levels of mindfulness.

 From "The First Foundation: Mindfulness of Body," in the 1973 
Hinayana-Mahayana Transcripts, page 45.

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used 
by permission.

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Carolyn Rose Gimian

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week: teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
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