Self-Reliance

The Ox Herder Sees the Back End of the Ox



Perhaps you have heard the saying, "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him." And perhaps you have wondered, "What is this talking about?" 

It's a common phenomenon to think you have met the Buddha outside your self. A teacher, a spiritual guide, a mirage, fanciful images, or a guru are often mistaken as Enlightened. Claiming to be enlightened or thinking someone else is IT, the real thing, generally points to the problem of being "dreamy-eyed." Your view is not clear.

In this picture, the Ox herder sees the back end of the ox; he begins to run after it. But it is not a guru, a teacher, a priest, or a spiritual guide or anyone outside of himself. The Ox Herder sees something of himself, of his true nature. Although teachers and spiritual adepts may be helpful, they are not your true nature.   

This practice is DYI. ( Do It Yourself) with help from spiritual friends. No one can do it for you.

And since it is DYI, it requires that you rely on your self to practice.

But notice how things have changed for the Ox Herder. He sees the back end of the Ox and he begins to run. He sees something worth running after.

The Ox Herder realizes the "something" is within his fathom long body through practice, study, contemplation and investigation. All of these require energy and one can see the Ox Herder's energy and effort pick-up because he sees something. He is determined to follow it and begins to run.

Consider: What do you run after?

Please read chapter 3, if you are reading the book.