#7. Forgetting the Ox, the Man Rests Alone

Bright moon and cool wind: what a splendid home !

Sitting all alone, he is with the ox gone away.

Even if you doze until sunrise, what use would a whip and bridle be ?

The bright moon is rising and a cool wind is blowing: this is truly the best house of all. What a splendid home it is !

Now the ox is gone. First you had to make an effert to hold on to the ox; then, after some time, it began to follow you of its own accord. At this stage you do not have to pay it any attention at all. It proceeds correctly by along the way by itself.

"Even if you doze until sunrise, ... " This means that after sitting all night, unaware of the passing of time, while you are dozing with your back slightly bent, you quietly look up and cannot tell whether it is still nighttime or whether day has broken.

Many years ago in Haeinsa monastey, Kyongho Sunim would just sit quietly all day and night with his back slightly bent. Upon observing this, the sutra lecturer who lived below wrote him a note which said: "Since the venerable old monk is always dozing with his head down, it would seem that he has nothing better to do than to sleep." In reply, Kyongho Sunim answered: "Since there is nothing left for me to do, my only task now is to sleep." Because the ox is just as it should be, there is no need to whip it any more. Therefore, at this stage, even if you only doze, your practice will still keep advancing.

kyongho Sunim then added: "Sitting on the high seat, there is no need to think of this or that. One sits in samadhi without any thoughts at all." Such a person remains in samadhi irrespective of whether he is sitting or dozing. He continued: "Sitting without any thoughts, one abides in tranquillity and suchness. Thus one advances in one's natural state. So why do you disturb me by stirring up a little breeze ? Instead of letting me sleep quietly in the forest, why do you make me float in the air ?" At this stage you proceed entirely by yourself and need neither whip nor bridle.