Ten Ox-Herding Pictures with Verses
( 普明禪師牧牛圖頌 )
( 普明禪師牧牛圖頌 )
The "牧牛圖頌" (Ten Ox-Herding Pictures with Verses) by Chan Master Puming (普明禪師) is a famous Buddhist series of illustrations and accompanying verses that depict the stages of a practitioner's journey toward enlightenment. The ox symbolizes the mind or the true self, and the herding of the ox represents the discipline and effort required to realize the enlightened nature within.
Here is a loose translation of the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures with Verses attributed to Chan Master Puming:
1. Searching for the OxIn the tangled undergrowth, I search for the ox.
Lost on endless paths, where to begin?
I hear the cries of the forest birds,
But the ox is nowhere to be seen.
2. Seeing the FootprintsAlong the riverbank, under the trees,
I find the traces the ox has left behind.
In the deep mountains, far from human reach,
The footprints lead me to the truth I seek.
3. First Glimpse of the OxThrough the brush and tangled vines,
I catch the first glimpse of the ox's tail.
Its spirit is strong, its form hard to hold,
But the sight of it stirs my soul.
4. Catching the OxWith great effort, I throw the rope,
And finally manage to grasp the ox.
It struggles and pulls, but I hold firm,
Step by step, I begin the return.
5. Herding the OxThe ox is stubborn, wild, and unruly,
But with gentle patience, I guide it home.
The whip and the rope are now forgotten,
Harmony reigns, and the ox is calm.
6. Riding the Ox HomeI ride the ox, the song of the flute in the air,
The dust of the world no longer concerns me.
The ox moves as I wish, without struggle,
Returning home, I am at ease and free.
7. Ox Forgotten, Self AloneThe ox is forgotten, and so is the whip,
Alone, I sit in peace by the stream.
The moonlight on the water, the breeze in the trees,
In this quiet, nothing is as it seems.
8. Both Ox and Self ForgottenThe ox and the self are both forgotten,
The mind is empty, like the clear autumn sky.
Who is there to seek? What is there to find?
In the vastness, there is no “I.”
9. Returning to the SourceBack to the origin, back to the source,
The journey ends where it first began.
In silence and simplicity, the truth is revealed,
The ox, the self, the world—all one.
10. Entering the Marketplace with Open HandsBarefoot, I walk through the dusty streets,
With a joyful heart, I help others to see.
In the marketplace, there is no need for words,
With open hands, I freely share the Way.
Each picture and accompanying verse metaphorically illustrates the stages of spiritual practice—from the initial search for understanding, through taming and transcending the ego, to the realization of enlightenment, and finally returning to the world to help others with an enlightened heart.
Here is a loose translation of the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures with Verses attributed to Chan Master Puming:
1. Searching for the OxIn the tangled undergrowth, I search for the ox.
Lost on endless paths, where to begin?
I hear the cries of the forest birds,
But the ox is nowhere to be seen.
2. Seeing the FootprintsAlong the riverbank, under the trees,
I find the traces the ox has left behind.
In the deep mountains, far from human reach,
The footprints lead me to the truth I seek.
3. First Glimpse of the OxThrough the brush and tangled vines,
I catch the first glimpse of the ox's tail.
Its spirit is strong, its form hard to hold,
But the sight of it stirs my soul.
4. Catching the OxWith great effort, I throw the rope,
And finally manage to grasp the ox.
It struggles and pulls, but I hold firm,
Step by step, I begin the return.
5. Herding the OxThe ox is stubborn, wild, and unruly,
But with gentle patience, I guide it home.
The whip and the rope are now forgotten,
Harmony reigns, and the ox is calm.
6. Riding the Ox HomeI ride the ox, the song of the flute in the air,
The dust of the world no longer concerns me.
The ox moves as I wish, without struggle,
Returning home, I am at ease and free.
7. Ox Forgotten, Self AloneThe ox is forgotten, and so is the whip,
Alone, I sit in peace by the stream.
The moonlight on the water, the breeze in the trees,
In this quiet, nothing is as it seems.
8. Both Ox and Self ForgottenThe ox and the self are both forgotten,
The mind is empty, like the clear autumn sky.
Who is there to seek? What is there to find?
In the vastness, there is no “I.”
9. Returning to the SourceBack to the origin, back to the source,
The journey ends where it first began.
In silence and simplicity, the truth is revealed,
The ox, the self, the world—all one.
10. Entering the Marketplace with Open HandsBarefoot, I walk through the dusty streets,
With a joyful heart, I help others to see.
In the marketplace, there is no need for words,
With open hands, I freely share the Way.
Each picture and accompanying verse metaphorically illustrates the stages of spiritual practice—from the initial search for understanding, through taming and transcending the ego, to the realization of enlightenment, and finally returning to the world to help others with an enlightened heart.