Ming · by 普明原輯 性音續集舊跋 清 納信序 明 袾宏序 清 超格序 乾隆四十九年了彙重刊
6,831 · about 23 min
The Song of the Herding Ox is an important Chan Buddhist scripture in the Chinese Buddhist tradition. Originally composed by the Song Dynasty Chan master Puming, it was later supplemented with prefaces and postscripts by eminent monks such as Yunqi Zhuhong of the Ming Dynasty and Xingyin of the Qing Dynasty, through which it has been transmitted. This work employs the metaphor of herding an ox to represent spiritual practice, using ten illustrations with accompanying verses to vividly depict the complete process through which a practitioner tames the mind and progresses from delusion to awakening. It offers a tangible illustration of the core Chan teaching of illuminating the mind and realizing one’s true nature. While its language is simple, its meaning is profound, transforming the abstract stages of Chan meditation into the concrete stages of herding an ox. Highly valued within the Chan school, it serves as a classical guide for meditation practice and holds a significant place in both Buddhist literature and methods of spiritual cultivation.