Fw: Ten Bulls Of Zen
John Churchilly
August 12, 2023
A parable journey of awareness into the blossoming of the soul and its purpose here.There is an ancient story, the famous Zen story, The Ten Bulls of Zen. It is a pictorial story with ten picture cards, each card containing a phase of man and his evolution. The original pack consisted of only nine cards; the tenth was added. Everybody opposes a real seeker of truth, everybody avoids them. He censors what’s said to most. The tenth is added, and the tenth, is the most beautiful, the very culmination, the culmination of the culmination itself. This is a journey home. Home is wherever your soul is in this world.
In the first picture the bull is lost and the owner is searching for it. Spiritual translation: One person of no religiousness suddenly has a 'feeling' of something in their heart of a spiritual meaning. In the second, they are looking everywhere and cannot find it. Meaning in the second, they find tracks or signs, be it thoughts of going to church, temple, mosque or reading holy books, self help books, etc. In the third, far, far away he barely sees something: “Perhaps that is my bull?” Meaning the search starts, for the source of that feeling, and with great intent. In the fourth, the bull is actually seen — not the whole bull but just its tail. In reality, the interest in prayer, meditation, positive thinking, etc. becomes more of an interest, although not a dedication.
In the fifth, 1/2 the bull is seen and the tail is grabbed. The motivation becomes more intense with those things enhancing a more spiritual, giving life without the pursuit of the material. In the sixth the whole bull is seen. Meaning the journey is before them into a more spiritual life. There is a curiosity and inner urge to climb on the bull for a deep spiritual journey
In the seventh, the bull is mounted. This is where the mounter either holds on for a journey, or is thrown off. To be thrown off the spiritual path frequently happens. But, the one with the courageous heart tries again always until they become one with the bull. In the eighth bull card, one is riding on the bull. Learning from the heart and mind of the aforementioned flickering spiritual world becomes more enriched now with experiences of 'self love' evolving faster.
On the ninth, they arrived home. Meaning, they experience great love within themselves all of the time while living in increased awareness and discernment of every option for the best practical and spiritual decision for the highest outcome possible. In the tenth, the bull is gone and is replaced by a sense of superconsciousness to live in joy and blessings while giving to the world as much as is possible and with great pleasure is now born anew in a celestial like awakening. This 'being' has entered into the 'blessings' they were here for. At this time in life, they can choose to be part of the solution to enable others to rise to their real inner self too.
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