Buffalo the Buddha.

In Asian agricultural countries like India, China, Vietnam, etc., for thousands of years, buffalo is a familiar, close and helpful image as an important part of everyday life. farmer. 

Buddhism originated from India and spread to neighboring countries in Asia, so in the Buddhist tradition as well as in Buddhist teaching from the time of the Buddha to the latter have the image of buffalo show. 

From the familiar image of humanity to the symbolism of domestication, buffalo herd really is a typical example of inclusion in the Buddhist culture. Thus, buffalo herding was mentioned many times during the Buddha's dharma times when he was still alive. Buffalo herding has also continued in the teachings of the monks and nuns through generations, in many countries.

  

  

  

  

  

* Buffalo like crazy mind island

The process of taming buffaloes to make it from the aggressive, cruel and savage nature of wild animals to be gentle, patient, industrious and submissive is a process not only characteristic of Education in the empirical world of the world but also symbolic in terms of religious and spiritual transformation in the Buddhist world. In that sense, the mind of the sentient beings' ignorance, with the delusion of the buffalo, originates from the same ignorance. Both are unaware of their true heart. Both live in the crazy mind of the island from the past lives. Both were ignorant ignorant boss unknown. But both are inherently Buddhist or transcendent sense. Both can attain enlightenment and liberation.Both are Buddhas. 

Thus, in the Mahayana Initiation, the Bodhisattva Bodhisattva pointed out that the mind of sentient beings contains two meanings: Second is the mind echoes the mind to kill the crazy island. Buffalo as crazy mind island. The person who cultivates the mind is like a buffalo shepherd, the mind that destroys the mind and destroys it to subdue it. Because of that, the process of cultivation is the process of converting the mind, from the mind to the foot, from birth to death, from enlightenment, from sentient beings to the Buddha. But the process of transforming that mind, depending on the merits of the cultivator who has a shop, is high, low, deep. 

Depending on the subject and object, sometimes the Buddha taught retrieval of the body of speech through the standard method. Sometimes the Buddha taught the mere practice of directing the view of self-nature through wisdom. Most of the sutras of the Lord Buddha, the Buddha's instructions to the body through the mind set. Like the following story from the Sutra of the Sangha, which later in the Great Torah, the Nagarjuna Bodhisattva narrated in Book 2, chapter 3, explains the Elderly.Sanskrit is the Bhagavat. The Chinese translations are Bo Pham, Pham, and Giaa Ba. The Chinese translations are Huu Duc, Huu Thanh Danh, This is one of the ten signs of the Buddha, including: Tathagata, Candidate, Major Transfiguration, Good HH, Good Thing, World Prize, Supreme Master,

* Buddha Dhamma: from 11 ways to blanket the buffalo

It is said that, in that year, King Bimbisàra of Magadha, a country in central India during the Buddha's time, gave birth to the Buddha's offering and the 500 Bhikkhus All three months of retreat.Therefore, the king needed the supply of buffalo milk from many buffaloes in the country. At the end of the holiday season, because of the desire to create a blessing for buffalo ranchers, King Bimbisara called all buffalo herdsmen to meet the Buddha. When informed by the king, many buffaloes said that on the occasion of their visit to the Buddha, they would try to see the Buddha's precepts as the first stage, what is known, is true or not. Then they discuss together. Many of them said that Shammon Gotama was born in the empowerment, grew up learning and mastering everything, from the Vedas to digital astrology, From philosophy to religion, from education to society, from logic to problem, what you already know. We can not take these issues to test you. Only the herd of buffaloes, which from small to large he never knew, is a problem that can make it difficult for him. As such, buffalo herdsmen go to Truc Lam Parish where the Buddha and 500 monks are staying.

In the place where buffalo herds see the presence of large numbers of bhikkhus, laymen, Brahmanas, Satipatthip, etc. sit quietly in silence. In front of the large crowd, on the Kim Cang, the Buddha is meditating. Look bright generosity, brilliant virtue, compassionate appearance, self-styled as the magnificent Mount Meru of the Buddha, the herd of buffaloes immediately began to worship. They approached, walked three rounds around the Buddha, revered the Indian senses of that time, and sat down together. At that time, representatives of buffalo herds asked the Buddha:

-  Saam Gom Dam, buffalo heroes have many achievements to make more and better buffalo herd. 

Buddha calmly replied:

-  Hey, there are eleven things for the buffalo to make the buffalo more and more secure. What is eleven? It is knowledgeable, knowledgeable, know-how, know how to cover the wound, know how to smoke, know the way well, know where the buffalo appropriate, know how to cross the river, know where to stay safe, know how to keep the buffalo Temple. If elephants know elephants, it can make the buffalo more abundant and secure.

- Why is it called sharp? Is known black, white, halo. 

- Why is it called General? It is known that buffaloes have good or not good generals, when matching with buffaloes other human generals know. 

- Why is it called a dissection? Buffalo suffering from blood sucking, the wound healed, dissection time harm, happy time. 

- Why is it called cover mask? It is possible to get fabric, grass, leaves to prevent mosquito bites. 

- Why smoke called? Smoky is to get rid of mosquitoes, the buffalo in the distance see the smoke is aimed at home. 

- Why is it known to know the way? Know the way buffalo goes good or bad. 

- Why call the buffalo know appropriate? Is known to make the buffalo to grow, safe, less disease .. 

- Why is it wise to cross the river? Know where easy, easy to pass, not waves, poison. 

- Why is it called safe place? Know where there are no leopard tigers, lions, worms, monsters. 

- Why is it called keeping milk? Mother buffalo buffalo baby should give milk. Because of the milk retained part, the mother buffalo was happy, the succession did not dry up, buffalo owners and buffalo heroes on a useful day. 

- Why is it called raising Buffalo Princess? Protection of large buffalo, because it preserves the herd of buffaloes, should be raised not to be skinny, give sesame oil, jewelry with peanuts, signs with the T-and iron, rubbing, Etc ... 

When the shepherds hear the Buddha teach about eleven such buffalo herd is so admirable. They think to themselves, whether buffalo herdsmen with a seasoned experience, can only know three or four things in the same way, how can we know the eleventh way of raising such a buffalo. The buffaloes that you know so well, the other how you do not know. So, they believe that the Buddha is the One.

* To 11 ways to pursue a career

The buffalo herdsmen asked how the shepherd had taught the bhikkhu eleven how to nourish the body and mind, and to advance the cultivation. Sutra in the Most Aesthetic The narrative teaches the Buddha to teach the bhikkhu as follows:

" Likewise, like a buffalo, a monk accomplishes eleven good deeds without loss of weather. Bhikkhu achieved eleven such measures, in the present, many benefits. What is eleven? Here, the monks know the colors, know the general, know how to comb, know how to cover the wound, know how smoked, know the field where there are many grass, know what lovely, know the way, know where to cross the river, glass Bhikkhu monk that depending on time of worship.

What is a monk knows? Here, the monk knows the four virtues, and knows the virtues of the four created. That is called monks know sharp.

What is a monk? Here, the monks know the ignorant general, know the general; To know the truth. Thus, the monk knows the general.

What is a bhikkhu who knows how to brush? Here, monks, when starting mindfulness of thought, immediately know the dissipation, not close, forever without thinking. When the scene of thought, harmful thoughts, the evil idea of ​​evil arise, immediately know the ration, not weight, permanently without the yard of thinking things. Thus, monks know how to brush.

"What is the monk cover the wound? Here, monks, when they see the color without beginning, nor the first, but the pure eyes;Eliminating the evil evil law, grief, heart not craving, in which the human eye base. Also, monks, when hearing ear, nose smell incense, tongue tasted, body knows smooth, the idea of ​​knowledge that does not initiate the thought, nor pre-infection, but pure mind. Thus, monks cover the wound.

How, monks know how smoked? Here, the Bhikkhu speaks to the other dharma he has heard. Thus, monks know how to smoke.

What, monks know good field where much grass? Here, the Bhikkhus truly know the eight saintly qualities. Thus, monks know good field where there are many grass.

How, monks know what is dear? Here, Bhikkhu listen to the law told Tathagata, in the heart immediately loved. Thus, monks know the lovely thing.

How, monks know the way? Here, the Bhikkhus for the 12 Sutras know that choice. That is, Kham kinh, Ky-dạ, Tho determination, Shelf, Causality, Moi, Equality, For example, Birth, Theory, Universe, ruler. Thus, monks know the way.

How, monks know where to cross the river? Here, the Bhikkhu knows four thoughts. It is a monk who knows where to cross the river.

How, monks know enough to eat? Here, bhikshuns have brahmins, good-she-rules, who have confidence, to the occasion. Monks do not eat or drink, can know enough to stop. Monks, that is enough.

What, Bhikkhus, according to the age of monks senior monks?Here, Bhikkhu constantly with good by the body, mouth, mind for the elderly monks. Thus, Bhikkhus, according to the time, serve the elderly monks.

Bhikkhu achieved eleven such measures, in the right way, many things benefit. " 

* Goats, far deer, and buffalo

In the Mahayana Saddharma Pundarika Sutra, the Third Book of the Buddha, to indicate the Purpose of the "Most Venerable", means to bring the Three Noble Truths, tells the story of The father finds a way to save the kids in the fire by offering three beautiful and splendid carriages to stimulate their favorite heart so they run out of the fire. The only firehouse for the three realms (three realms): sex, form and formless. Three carts are: goat, deer and buffalo.Goat car represents Thanh Van Thua. Deer Car represents the Enlightenment. Buffalo car only for Mahayana or One Buddha. 

The Buddha's vows were stated in the Second Message of the Lotus Sutra,  "The Buddha was born of a great cause and condition that wanted to make beings open, to reveal, understand and penetrate. Into the knowledge of the Buddha. " 

The knowledge of the Buddha's wisdom enlightenment ignorance and liberation of suffering misery. The Buddha is the only and ultimate goal. Or in other words, the Buddha was born to make beings into Buddhas. Except for the Buddha, there is no other way to remove the root of ignorance and to fully liberate suffering.This great goal and benefit must be spread to all sentient beings.With that ideal, self-cultivation can not accomplish the great mission of the Buddha, but need to expand the way to bless all sentient beings. That way is Mahayana. Mahayana is a buffalo chariot, large carriage, carriage can carry many people. 

The use of buffalo to symbolize the carriage Mahayana carries many profound meaning. First, the buffalo is an animal raised in the house. The image of a buffalo attached to the life of the people. It goes into everyday life of every person, every family.Taking the buffalo to the Mahayana drag car expresses the mass, universality, popularness of the ideal of the Buddha. Second, the buffalo is a powerful animal that is pulling the car to carry many things, many people, not tired. Mahayana buffalo chariot therefore can carry many sentient beings to travel long distance from the ordinary to the Buddha. Third, the buffalo, as mentioned above, represents the mind of ignorance of sentient beings. The path of Buddha originates from the mind of sentient beings to the Buddha,From the moment a being begins to develop bodhicitta until the completion of enlightenment and liberation. Therefore, the carriage carrying the sentient beings from this side (try the bank) ignorance suffering the brain to the other shore (pudding) the peaceful mind is the vehicle of sentient beings, ie buffalo, Transformed into enlightened mind, ie the Buddha Vehicle completely. 

* Buffalo in the final teachings of the Buddha

On the night of Nibbana in the Salavana forest at Kushinagar, the Buddha, in his final instructions to the Bhikkhus, also taught:

"Monks, or precepts of precepts; You also need to know how to do, not for the five bristling chasing desire years. Like a buffalo, taking care of a whip is the key to keeping a buffalo from eating someone's home. "

Take the action of holding the whip watching the buffalo so that it does not eat the rice of the comparator to illustrate the action of self-restraint not to let the five bases follow the five desires is a concrete example, both flexible, moderate Bold, deep. This also shows the way of teaching, very practical, very lively and effective way of teaching the Buddha. He presents an image that no one in the audience does not know, do not understand. For years in the minds of sentient beings are always ready to start to manipulate, cultivators need to be cautious in every moment as the shepherd watching the buffalo not let him eat the rice. Copper field if the gap for a moment, the buffalo will eat rice immediately.Cultivators are not self-contained in every idea, word and deed. As in the Fourfold Sutra, the Buddha also remembers:

" The practitioner is like a buffalo carrying heavy in deep mud, tired but not dare to look at the two sides, out of the mud before they can rest, the monks have to always reflect sex than mud, Remembering the new path can be free from suffering. " 

* Chinese Zen meditation buffalo

When Bodhidharma brought Meditation from India into Chinese soil at the beginning of the sixth century CE as trees were planted in good soil and good climate, they flourished. He left a mystery for China's Zen meditation through the verse: 

Ngo mai nuat ter, broth,
love infatuation.
Thickness of the ovary, the
natural result.
(I come to this country, the
lineage to rescue anger.
A flower blossoming five wings,
natural results.)

That legend was fulfilled exactly two centuries later, the Tang dynasty. One flower only for Zen Master Jiao Khe of the Sixth Patriarch Hui Nang. The five pointed out for the five largest schools of Zen originating from the Sixth Patriarch: Lam Te, Soto, Ch'an, Van Mon, and Dharma. Two of the five meditation schools, Rinpoche and Soto, were later transmitted to Vietnam and developed very strongly, especially the Rinpoche.

China is an agricultural country. Zen masters are directly or indirectly connected with the way of life and the farmer's life.Therefore, the Zen Master Bach Truong advocated self-cultivation monasteries to live, cultivate and cultivate. He said "most of the day, not the day," a day without food. In the context of the country and society, the image of a buffalo is very close in the Zen house.So, very early on, Chinese Buddhism illustrated the enlightenment process of the enlightenment of the ten Great Shepherd and Zen monks. Zen masters, in meditation techniques, often refer to buffaloes and buffaloes. 

Story, one day, Zen master asked the teacher Thach Co:

-  What are you doing? - Herd. - Blanket like? - Whenever he runs into the pasture, he pulls his nose back, so he is a good shepherd.   

Or, as the story of Zen an instructor in consultation with Bach Truong:

-  I want to know Buddhism, how is it? - Just like riding a buffalo looking for a buffalo. - Understand how to do? - Like a buffalo go home. - Then how to keep before the match? - Like a buffalo who holds a buffalo's whip, do not make it into the paddy.     

Or, one day, he told them:

" Dai An for thirty years in Qui Son, eat Qui Son rice, Qui Son urine, do not learn Qui Son meditation, only watch a black water buffalo day and night, if it stray into the grass, Newly invaded rice field people, then bring the whip to the whip! Very cute! Buffalo was subjected to long-term maturity, obedient to the lucky man. Now the black buffalo has turned into white buffalo , Clearly palpable in front, all day chasing also not go. "

In the story above, Dai An talked about black buffalo and white buffalo. Black buffalo just ignorance. White buffalo only enlightened mind. The whole day of chasing away is the mind that has been subdued, no longer with the mind. That is the state of mind is always present in the visual, is the state of legal residence.

* Buffalo in Vietnamese Meditation:  Tue Trung Thuong Si "Reporter" 

The meditation on buffalo is so much, but it is the Chinese Zen.Vietnam is also an agricultural country. Buddhism passed into Vietnam earlier than in China, as it passed through the direct shipping route from India to Giao Chi and Giao Chau. In the Three Kingdoms period, Zen master Khuong Tang Hoi from Giao Chi went to Dong Chau to spread the teachings of Buddhism. In the past, the temples in Vietnam mostly had farmland, either by the self-made monks themselves, either by the royal court or by the Buddhist monks. Especially the pagodas in each village have land to cultivate themselves. There are pagodas that raise buffaloes and cows to plow their fields or use fertilizer to fertilize their crops.The image of the buffalo, therefore, is closer and closer to Zen.

During the Tran dynasty, there was a remarkable figure in Zen Buddhism in Vietnam. That is Tue Trung Thuong Si Tran Tung, a Zen master enlightened behavior that the eyes are difficult to understand. The story of this teacher is quite numerous and fortunate, but here only mention a few poems he made mention of the buffalo. The article, as follows:

Ngoc Quy Son direction of the succession, Wild devotees of the mendicant. King of drilling as the sea, Custom tat a spring water.Truc Thien translated as follows: Suddenly, the young Quy was relaxed, the wild field to keep the buffalo play. The king as wide as the river, according to the spring section of fresh water.        

In another poem, Master Tue Trung did not separate his blanket buffalo. 

The most unique reef rhino, Dang is out of retirement. Jiao Khao City is in a good position, Mang is carrying water level bridge. Dai Lu translation as follows: Alone trying to keep the buffalo,Piercing lead not to rest. Just came to Cao Khue down, but dizzy drifted flowing stem.        

(Both poems of Tue Trung Thuong Si above are quoted in the article by Dai Lan, Tue Trung's unique landmark, Tue Trung's source, www.daitangkinhvietnam.org). 

In the time of Trinh Nguyen's dissertation, in a similar poem by Huong Hai, he mentioned that he was searching for true nature or looking for something like looking for a buffalo. The poem is as follows:

Tale of tu compassion , learning the heartless. Accomplished at the complete posture, Uncaring halo. Interpretation:  Find the buffalo need to follow, learn the heartless. There is still a buffalo, free heart can be.        

The  mind is not accidental, emotionless, indifferent, anything is not known. Such a mindlessness is different from stone. Invisible is seeing the arising emptiness of the mind, seeing the nature. So in the Kim Cang Bat Kinh, the Buddha said: "The opinion of generals General, the idea of ​​Tathagata." See the emptiness of the law is to understand the nature, ie the Buddha. The mind does not produce the dharmas. So do not get entangled or bound to the ceiling. That is the heartless state of the Buddha.

In the  center each have shape buffalo. That buffalo is pure or aggressive, white or black depending on each person. In order for the purebred buffalo, it will continually cause sorrow and suffering to oneself and others. Know how to blanket, subdue and transform, then it will be purebred, turned black into white. 

In  this respect, Buddhism is perennial and practical: it teaches nothing but buffaloes. But to reach the realm like the shepherd who sits on a buffalo, chirping the song, or the easy way to blow the whistle is not easy. People have to live close and toil, to roll around, to take care of it every single grass, every bit of water, run around it in the alleys or ponds, sometimes to use it. Whip to look, use to tie to force the mouth, use the rope to tie, then it submits to hear the words. Once the buffalo has obeyed, the new shepherd moves freely in the meadow. 

When  enchanted has melted according to the flute of the hebrew, there is no black buffalo or white buffalo, buffalo or the world buffalo, because the absolute lack of grass ...END=NAM MO SHAKYAMOUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.THE MIND OF ENLIGHTENMENT.VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=GOLDEN LOTUS MONASTERY=AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.26/6/2017.