Timeless Zen is the way of practicing meditation at all times, every day. It is not only the way to maintain a peaceful, focused, and right state of mind, but it is also a way to use our original mind well in our daily activities.
Authentic practice begins with realizing our true nature, and based on that realization, we practitioners cultivate our original mind through meditation. The fruit of being enlightened to and nurturing our original mind is the ability to use our minds properly to enrich our lives.
Timeless Zen is the simultaneous practice of Spiritual Cultivation, Dharma Study, Mindful Choice in Action in our daily lives. Timeless Zen is a mind-training with four stages and in the Zen tradition is compared to taming an ox.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Verse
I seize him with a terrific struggle.
His great will and power are inexhaustible.
The whip and rope are necessary,
Else he might stray off down some dusty road.

TAKING HOLD OF THE MIND

Timeless Zen starts with taming the mind. An untamed, wild mind is just like a stubborn, unbridled ox. Our ordinary mind, full of bad habits and unwholesome desires, drives us to all kinds of dangerous situations just as an untamed ox pulls people to wherever it wants to go. We begin by putting our minds in a harness and holding tightly the reins of the ox, who constantly wanders away in search of sweet grass. Practitioners should sometimes raise the whip to tame the ox.
Staesan, the founding master of Won-Buddhism, warned practitioners not to lose the spirit to fight whenever we encounter a trying situation and are tempted to walk on the deviant path.

 

Verse
Being well trained and tame,
He becomes naturally gentle.
Then, unfettered, he obeys his master.
I now observe the river flowing tranquilly at the water’s edge.

WATCHING THE MIND

When the ox becomes tamed and obedient, we can just watch our mind wherever it would like to go. Only when it is about to go to a dangerous place, should we pull on the reins to put it on the proper path again. At this stage, practitioners should still be always alert, not letting go of the reins.

 

Verse
Mounting the bull, I slowly return homeward.
The voice of my flute intones,
Through the evening.
The moon emerging from a cloud shines brightly.

FORGETTING THE MIND

When the ox becomes tamed, we sometimes forget about the existence of the ox, just as we forget about shoes when they fit well. The ox and the person begin to become one. Without making extra effort, the mind works according to its original nature and our freedom is expanded and enhanced.

 

Verse
Barefooted and with ragged clothes,
I mingle with the people of the world.
I use no magic to extend my life;
Now, before me, the dead trees become alive.

UTILIZING THE MIND

When the mind reaches Buddhahood, it becomes completely wise, compassionate and empowered. Just as a well-tamed ox benefits the farmer wherever it goes, the enlightened one helps suffering people wherever he or she goes.
May all people discover the footprints of their potential, their true self, and help others to become enlightened.