Daesoonjinrihoe's Ox Seeking Pictures

Ox Seeking Pictures

A metaphoric visual representation of cultivation in Daesoon Jinrihoe

This is a series of pictures (Simudo) that depicts one's journey toward spiritual enlightment using the metaphor of a boy finding an ox. The boy is a disciple and the ox symbolizes Daesoon Truth which Sangje unfolded into this world. In short, these paintings symbolize the whole process of cultivation undertaken to realize Daesoon Truth.

Deep Contemplation Leading to Awakening (深深有悟)

 

The boy is in a deep contemplation under a pine tree where he asks questions such as "What is life?", "Where did I come from?", and "Where am I heading to?" The boy who is accustomed to living a daily routine life has come to the point of seeking the reason for human existence.

                                    Devotedly Honoring the Teachings of Sangje (奉得神敎)

The boy points to hoof prints left by an ox which he has found on the mountain trail ahead of him. The ox's hoof prints symbolize the guidance of divine beings. During the process of resolving his questions, the boy does in fact meet with Sangje's Daesoon Truth through the diverse forms of guidance offered by divine beings. However, having not yet seen the ox, the boy has yet to truly grasp Daesoon Truth, and hence he just follows the vague traces of it which are apparent to him. This is the state where a person is introduced to Daesoon Truth.

                                    Striving Diligently onward for One's Cultivation (勉而修之)

After following the ox's hoof prints, the boy finally sees the hindqurters of ox. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning and thunder fills the sky as a howling storm arrives. Still, the boy should push himself forward through the rough and narrow mountain trail in search of the ox. Having found the ox's hindquarters, he feels encouraged and will not give up despite the roughness and bumpiness of the path before him. This is the stage where desciples push themselves forward diligently towards spiritual enlightenment and overcome many of the diffficulties encountered during their cultivation.

                                     Maintaing Your Exertion with Utmost Sincerity (誠之又誠)

The boy finally encounters the white ox. The weather has cleared up and the boy has safely crossed over the steep valley. This is the time to build a friendship with the ox, an act which signifies the stage where the disciples discard the thoughts and behaviors acquired from the Former World where mutual conflict prevailed. At this stage, the boy exerts himself in inspired efforts to fully internalize Daesoon Truth in order to advance to the stage of complete unification and identification with Dao.

*white ox: this is an analogy for the realization of Sangje's Daesoon Truth

          Reaching the Stage of Truth by Perfectly Aligning Oneself with Daesoon Truth (道通眞境)

The boy is now playing a flute while riding on the white ox. He looks fully calm and peaceful. This is the stage where the boy is completely united with Daesoon Truth. Here, the boy represents a disciple who has reached the state of being in full accordance with Daesoon Truth of Sangje. This is the stage of complete unification and identification with Dao.

                                          The Later World of Earthly Paradise (道之通明)

At this stage, the boy has united with the white ox and transformed into an Earthly-Immortal. The world has changed into a beautiful and peaceful place where female celestial musicians perform their melodies, the herbs of eternal youth bloom, and cranes stroll around the meadow. This symbolizes the stage where human beings are transformed into Earthly Immortals while the world has become an Earthly Paradise. This is the glorious Later World where the Daesoon Truth of Sangje has been spread throughout the shole world.

*Earthly-Immortal : a perfected human being who has attained divinity and immortality through cultivation.