Poetry Project: 10 bulls

The ten bulls or ox-herding pictures are a zen kōan illustrating the stages of  prayerful meditation on the path to enlightenment. They enchanted me when I first learned of them, and years later I’ve made them the subject of a photoart and poetry project. These are the poems so far:

1. In search of the bull
2. Discovering the footprints
3. First sight of the bull
4. Catching the bull
5. Taming the bull

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Some links I liked:

• • A higher perspective on the 10 ox-herding pictures
  • The Ten Bulls of Zen

Some Animations I liked:

• • Ten bulls of Zen in animation
  • Ten Ox-herding pictures

Acknowledgements: the bull in my photoart is by courtesy of Arline Wagner – see her website for more artwork or purchase this print here: