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Gentling the Bull – 03 Finding the Bull

The herdsman recoils startled at hearing the voice and that instant sees into the origin.  The six senses are quieted in peaceful harmony with the origin.  Revealed, the bull in his entirety now pervades all activities of the herdsman, present as inseparably as is salt in sea water, or glue in paint.  When the herdsman opens his eyes wide and looks, he sees nothing but himself.

Suddenly a bush warbler trills high in the tree top.
The sun shines warm, and in the light breeze the willows on the water’s edge show their new green.
There is no longer a place where the bull can hide himself;
No painter can capture the magnificent head with its soaring horns!

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On seeing the bull and hearing his bellow,
Tai-sung, the painter, surpassed his craft.
Accurately he pictured the heart bull from head to tail,
And yet, on carefully looking, he is not quite complete.

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Having pushed his face right against the bull’s nose,
He no longer needs to follow the bellowing.  This bull is neither white nor blue.
Quietly nodding, the herdsman smiles to himself.
Such landscape cannot be caught in a picture!