Ten Bulls is, in tradition of Zen Buddhism, a series of short poems and accompanying

pictures that are intended to illustrate the stages of a Mahayana Buddhist practitioners
progression towards enlightenment.
Mahayana Buddhism teaches that enlightenment can be attained in a single lifetime,
and this can be accomplished even by a layperson.
The pictures, poems and short pieces of prose tell how the student ventures into the
wilderness in his search for the Bull (or Ox; a common metaphor for enlightenment,
or the true self or simply a regular human being).
Even though this was written for ancient times its wisdom can still be implemented in
todays society. Thats why I explained each of the 10 Bulls below so it makes sense in
todays world. Watch the video and then, read what each of the 10 short poems mean.

1. THE SEARCH FOR THE BULL:

Many people in the world are stuck on this level. They feel something missing, they
want to find the truth, they search for the bull endlessly in all the wrong places until

they are too tired to continue. Its very easy to get fooled that there is no bull on this
level.

2. DISCOVERING THE FOOTPRINT:

Suddenly, in the midst of the information that is forced down your mind you start to see
a divine pattern. You notice the illusions and false realities created to keep you busy
chasing ghosts. You start to perceive the bulls footprints all around you. You realize
that the bull actually exists and you are onto it.

3. PERCEIVING THE BULL:

Following the footprints you end up places you never thought you would go. You
discover the magic and beauty that was hidden in plain sight. You start to see the real
world all around you. You sort out the clues youve found along your way and, finally,
you perceive the bull standing divinely in front of you.

4. CATCHING THE BULL:

You try to embody your true self, to live through your true potential, to see the truth, but
the bull is a restless beast. Just when you think that youve caught it the bull changes
direction. It drags you from one extreme to another. You face emotions long forgotten,
you get lost, exhausted, until finally you surrender to the bull so it catches you.

5. TAMING THE BULL:

Now you start to train. Its like learning everything from beginning. You face the world
with the bull and it doesnt take much for the world to bring you to your old habits.
However, you train. At first the bull is aggressive but soon you tame it to be gentle. You
keep taming the bull and learning how to live in the world being the real you.

6. RIDING THE BULL HOME:

Youve trained the bull in such a way that you have fun with it. You are more free with it
than you ever were by yourself. You sing, dance, laugh, play with the bull and you are
almost immune to the world around you. Youve discovered your own frequency and the
bull is in harmony with it. You are its master. Its time to bring it home so everyone you
love can get to know it.

7. THE BULL TRANSCENDED:

You discover your home. You are serene. Peaceful. The bull can rest too. The need to
train the bull has faded. You are free to be free. You accept the bull as it is and you
as you are. You realize that the bull too was only an illusion, but a helpful one created
from your own heart.

8. BOTH BULL AND THE SELF TRANSCENDED:

Everything is an illusion. Everything is one. You discover place inside you where
everything merges into no thing. This is the place that the bull came from. This is the
nexus of you. Its the purest version of you and nothing can stain it. Its your own light.
Your home. Your true potential. Your soul. You perceive footsteps from ancient wisdom
there. You bath in your own light. You become your own light.

9. REACHING THE SOURCE:

You reach your own heaven and discover The Source. Its the most beautiful place
youve ever imagined. It was always with you but you were unable to see it. You think if
only you were blind and deaf from the beginning so you wouldnt have been fooled by
the outer world. But then you realize that youve been fooled by your own inner world,
not the outer world. You realize that going to the outer world from this place here was
the greater plan all along.

10. IN THE WORLD:

Coming from your own heaven makes you divine. You are connected to the wisdom of
The Source. You walk the world and others think you do miracles simply because you
are you. Simply by your presence you make the world a better place because the
heaven you come from is projected upon the outer world through your actions. You bath
the world with your light. You are enlightened.