In general, the bullherding pictures are about mind training in Buddhism. Although Buddhism has many practice methods, all of them aim at mind training. In this sense, the ten pictures may be considered as the answer to the question “How to master/conquer the mind?” ("Vân hà hàng phục kì tâm ?" Chinese; Làm sao làm chủ được cái tâm? Vietnamese) in the Diamond Sutra.
The bull represents the mind full of illusions. There is the bull and there is also the human, or the herd boy. There is the mind and there is also the world of phenomena. All the Mahayana practice focuses on “mastering” the bull, namely, “training” the mind. The untamed mind is like a wild bull. To tame it we must use tough measures, such as hitting it with a rod, tying a ring of strong rope to its nose, etc. The same with training the mind. We need to take refuge in the three Gems (the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha), observe the precepts, develop the Bodhicitta and take the Bodhisattva vow. After practicing for a long time, “the bull” gradually becomes less wild, and easier to control, and the mind will get more tranquil. That is the meaning of the first five pictures. It is the first stage, or the precept observance stage. This leads to the next, the concentration stage.
During this second stage, the mind is calm and concentration develops. The perception of a self no longer exists, but there are still perceptions about the world of phenomena. This is the stage of those who attain spiritual merits through profound understanding of the four noble truths, and the law of interdependence or dependent origination. It is expressed through the next two pictures.
Still there is another stage in which the practitioner attains wisdom, or the true mind, which has no more illusions. At this stage there are no human nor bull. All perceptions about the self (the subject) and about the world of phenomena (the object)are gone. There is only Oneness. This is the realm of Boddhisattva. In the picture now there is only one circle. No thought. No mind. Nirvana.
In short, the Bullherding Pictures are about a Buddhist practitioner’s spiritual practice and progress: it begins with the practitioner’s self examination and self reflection; then, once s/he has mastered the monkey mind, the practitioner becomes imperturbable. In the end, there are no more conscious thoughts, and no more dualistic mind.
(To be continued)
Source:
Thích Tuệ Sỹ
http://www.daophatngaynay.com/vn/phat-phap/giao-phap/giac-ngo-giai-thoat/3185-Tranh-Chan-Trau-Dai-Thua-va-Thien-Tong.html
October 17.
