The very active mind is common, and in today’s overactive world perhaps triggered all the more. Meditation practices assist in calming such a mind and gaining insight into one’s life. Out of an old Taoist tradition, and later painted by a Chinese Buddhist master, the Oxherding pictures offer some symbolic and ultimately practical advice. What follows are some thoughts on this classic story.

We are oxherders, all of us. Seekers, with or without knowing it. We have lost our mind. Lost the ox. We must track it and catch it. Old habits (poisons) of greed, ill-will and ignorance disrupt our efforts. We must find and tame the ox nevertheless. Once found, whips ands ropes are brought to the cause. Over time, the old fears and frustrations fade and as if by magic, the ox is forgotten. Serenity. Transcendence and returning to our roots. There is no separation. The two are one. The ordinary life and enlightenment.

The focus here lands midway in this story: Whips and ropes. The meditation challenge of taming the ox. Many fine teachers, well known and obscure have shed light on those whips and ropes, the taming, in the path toward serenity and transcendence. If the serene state is represented as open, precise and gentle awareness, then taming might begin with a simple and relentless counting of breaths. Just to ten (or even 5) and back to one. Maybe we rope in the effort with a kind of labeling or noting of concurrent sensations: buttocks on bench; chest rise and fall; ticking clock. All of this quieting the mind and its many, many thoughts.

In especially difficult times, lightly touching thumbs could be parted as one thumb is gripped tight by the other hand. Squeeze for a few momewnts. Whips and ropes.

And taming reveals the pauses and gaps between breaths. And between thoughts. Dichotomies disappear. Two become one. Serenity.