As the central theme that unites the sequence of oxherding pictures, what does the metaphor of the ox and oxherd mean to the Chan practitioner? Certainly, the quality of attentiveness is an essential virtue for good oxherding. In the Chan context, it is not difficult to understanbd its applicability: it signifies the extraordinary mindfulness and persistence required to train the mind. Every time the mind wanders from the correct practice or proper attention to the activity at hand, the meditator catches it and patiently pulls it back. Such a person never gets upset. He or she doesn't regret what has passed, doesn't anticipate the future, but, remains constantly alert to the mind's deviations, catches the wayward mind and gently puts it back on track. In fact, the very the very awareness that the mind has wandered is itself proper practice, for as soon as it is detected the problem is already corrected.
---Master Sheng Yen---
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