Peaceful - Ten Ox Herding - Part 6

Peaceful - Ten Ox Herding - Part 6 - Art Print / Framed Print.

The battle is over, and so ends the search. But in reality, you didn't have to look that far, in many ways it was with you all along, and now you will keep it close. It was simply a lack of enlightenment that prevented you from seeing things clearly. And with this understanding comes a feeling of peace and tranquillity, as you soak in the golden sunshine at The Bay.

About the Ten Ox Herding project

This project is a collaboration with my friend Shinji Asai. It is a surfer's search of the true nature of the mind, based on the story from "Ten Ox Herding".

Ten Bulls or Ten Ox Herding is a series of short poems and accompanying drawings used in the Zen tradition to describe the stages of a practitioner's progress toward enlightenment and her or his return to society to enact wisdom and compassion.

Shinji wrote the story in Japanese for each step:

騎牛帰家
混沌は蒸発し　探求に旅が終わる
最初から　旅など必要ではなかった
答えは自分の中にあったのだ　ただ欲望の霧が
純粋なマインドへの道標を　曇らせていた
穏やかな心に　橙色の光が降り注ぎ
光の筋はまっすぐに　宝玉の在り処を照らした


and Tim Crowe translated it into English:

"The battle is over, and so is the search. There was little need to seek it in the first place though, for it was always within you and now it will never stray. It was simply ignorance that hid if from you. Feeling so peaceful and relaxed in the golden sunshine, at The Bay."

The Kanji and stamp is made by Shinji's brother Junichi Asai.

The print: Gallery quality archival Giclee prints on Jonas favourite paper - Hahnemühle Photo Rag, a white, 100% cotton paper with a smooth surface texture. Available with or without a matte/ border, and with or without a black/ white wood frame.