The Ox and the Monk

22 Aug 2001

I have discovered so many Tarot-like aspects in this old Tao painting that I want to expose you to it.  It is very subtle and clearly represents an evolutionary condition of the Path. Look at it meditationally, general appearance and details, It has a clear and wise message. Joseph

IMO, this is a very powerful and advanced image of human spiritual potential, and contemplating it will bring greater and clearer awareness of that state and receptivity to it. Worth a try? Below are points about this image that I would like to call to your attention.

  1. The rider is dressed in a black robe over a white inner garment. This should say something to Tarot students.
  2. The rider seems unconcerned about where he is being taken by his mount and fascinated with where he has been.  Major point.
  3. He has reins to control his mount but seems to ignore them, exerting no control.
  4. He is prepared for a somewhat extended journey as he has a typical lunch box (left rear leg of ox), and a water gourd or food storage vessel (left front). What appears to be a large cooking pan is seen under the ox's neck. With these items he seems to be well equipped for an extended journey..
  5. The rider has a sort of care free festivity about his position, as indicated by the flowering plant tied to the ox's left horn. This is a decoration for his home on the hoof. What does this signify to you?
  6. IMO, this ox is symbolic, not physical, indicated by the way the legs are placed. Do you see it? Real cattle do not walk this way. This is a pacers gait, used by specially trained horses. What does the ox represent?
  7. Maturity of the rider is shown by his baldness. Relative maturity of inner growth is essential to realize this evolutionary condition.
  8. The monk is in motion in his environment, yet he seems to do nothing of himself except permit his mount to carry him where it will. How can one become comfortable in this situation?

I am very interested in hearing your remarks about this. Joseph

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While this particular picture, of the fellow riding backwards on the ox, does not seem to be part of the traditional set of Ox-herding drawings, the similarities are so striking that I wonder if this one is not from an unusual version. A web search on "ox herding pictures" will turn up a number of versions, some similar and some quite different, but all with the same basic theme. Looking at the whole set, even if this picture is not one of them, sure fits in with the general discussion as it has played out so far. One fairly typical rendition can be found at http://www.jaysquare.com/ljohnson/ox-herding.html

Been gone for a week, if this has already been said then forgive me.

Bruce

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Several people have remarked that the head of the ox in the painting does not look ox-like, it looks like a cow, with a small face and short curved horns. I finally woke up to what this suggested--a feminine--Binah aspect to the guidance aspect of the life force represented by the ox. It fits and adds more depth to the intent of the painter. Wonderfully subtle stuff. Joseph

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 A controversial concept here that the supreme task of "brain' is self  control. Seems to be true at the beginning of the conscious path when we  believe performance is the criteria of our spirituality. This primary  function seems to change to heightened awareness, IMO, as growth  accelerates and spontaneity of response is trusted, accepted and  observed. Just being aware seems to be a delightful sufficiency.

We start in the Mystery Schools by learning our esoteric ABC's of form  and motion--the Tree and Tarot--and doing what we are told that we  "should'--outer directed. We sit facing front on the ox, holding the  reins, peering into the unknown but ostensibly taking charge of our  direction, as we are told we should, but not knowing exactly how or where  we are going.

Our goals seem to evade us and our negative expressions  persist. Our relationship to the ox is unknown but dawning. Our  inclination for observation seems to increase, especially through  retrospection, and that involves facing the rear on the ox--observing  understanding we didn't realize we had been given by what we had passed  through.

At some crisis point of realization, we relinquish the reins of  the ox, turn our saddle around, knowing and trusting that Its direction  is identical with "our" direction of motion. I am the ox--the Life  Force--and my "wants' are those of the Life Force and I am content with  that motion.. Sunday ramblings. Joseph