Jessica Davidson's Blog, page 60

Does a Dog have Buddha Nature?

There’s a well-known Zen koan that begins with this question. Reams of words and scholastic papers have been written about Joshu’s Dog. The koan sounds like the start of a bad Buddhist joke: A monk asked Joshu, a Chinese Zen master: ‘Has a dog Buddha nature or not?’ Joshu answered: ‘Mu!’ ‘Mu’ means No-thing, but […]

Addled Now Out in Paperback!

Addled: Adventures of a Reluctant Mystic is a novel about spiritual awakening in a crazy world, and how the crisis of spiritual emergency can become an awakening. The story follows reluctant mystic Zoe Popper on her quest for inner peace and self-knowledge. Addled explores the line between mysticism and madness using the philosophy of Zen […]

Novel Writing Competitions 2016

Updated Novel Writing Competition listing for 2016.A selection of international writing competitions for unpublished or self-published novels, plus a couple for UK residents only. I haven’t entered them all so can’t vouch for them personally, but if you have experience of any of these comps I’d love to hear from you.Good luck! Please be sure […]

Ox Herding Pictures: Entering the Marketplace

Bare-chested, barefooted, he comes into the marketplace. Muddied and dust-covered, how broadly he grins! Without recourse to mystic powers, withered trees he swiftly brings to bloom. The full title of this picture is sometimes Entering the Marketplace with Helping Hands and it represents the stage of the path where you’re ready to share your […]

Ox Herding Pictures: Returning to the Source

He has returned to the Origin, come back to the Source, but his steps have been taken in vain. It is as though he were now blind and deaf. Seated in his hut, he hankers not for things outside. Streams meander on of themselves,red flowers naturally bloom red. After dissolving into Oneness, the world returns. […]

Ox Herding Pictures: Both Ox and Self Forgotten

Whip, rope, Ox and man alike belong to Emptiness. So vast and infinite the azure skythat no concept of any sort can reach it, over a blazing fire a snowflake cannot survive. When this state of mind is realisedcomes at last comprehensionof the spirit of the ancient Patriarchs. In earlier Ox Herding Pictures this was […]

Ox Herding Pictures: Ox Forgotten, Self Alone

Only on the Ox was he able to come Home, But lo, the Ox is now vanished, and alone and serenesits the man. The red sun rides high in the skyas he dreams on placidly. Yonder beneath the thatched roofhis idle whip and idle rope are lying. Now the ox vanishes. This picture is sometimes […]

Ox Herding Pictures: Riding the Ox Home

Riding free as air he buoyantly comes home through evening mists in wide straw-hat and cape. Wherever he may go he creates a fresh breeze, while in his heart profound tranquillity prevails. This Ox requires not a blade of grass. Now you’re starting to get the hang of this awakening business – but don’t get […]

Ox Herding Pictures: Taming the Ox

He must hold the nose-rope tight and not allow the Ox to roam, lest off to muddy haunts it should stray. Properly tended, it becomes clean and gentle. Untethered, it willingly follows its master. You have successfully caught the ox of your Buddha nature, but there’s still work to be done. Discipline is still […]

Ox Herding Pictures: Catching the Ox

He must tightly grasp the rope and not let it go, for the Ox still has unhealthy tendencies. Now it charges up to the highlands Now it loiters in a misty ravine. This stage of the path is all about discipline. You’ve finally discovered the truth about your Buddha Nature. It’s been hidden […]