Bujinkan Santa Monica

The Ox Transcended, digital c-print photograph by Andrew Binkley Hatsumi Sensei describes the journey of a Bujinkan student through the Dan ranks as being akin to the Ten Oxherding pictures in Zen Buddhism. These pictures describe the seekers journey to enlightenment. If you haven't read my other posts in this series, please check them out. You may find them useful no matter what your rank is: Bujinkan Shodan 初段: Searching for the Bull Bujinkan Nidan 弐段: Discovering the Footprints Bujinkan Sandan 参段: Perceiving the Bull Bujinkan Yondan 四段: Catching the Bull Bujinkan Godan 五段: Taming the Bull Bujinkan Rokudan 六段: Riding the Bull Home On reaching seventh dan we may find that we have forgotten the ox. What does it mean to forget the Ox? Woodblock print by 德力富吉郎 Tokuriki Tomikichirō 忘牛存人 The Bull Transcended Astride the bull, I reach home.
 I am serene. The bull too can rest.
 The dawn has come. In blissful repose,
 Within my thatched dwelling
 I have a...

Riding the Ox Home, digital c-print photograph by Andrew Binkley Hatsumi Sensei describes the journey of a Bujinkan student through the Dan ranks as being akin to the Ten Oxherding pictures in Zen Buddhism. These pictures describe the seekers journey to enlightenment. If you haven't read my other posts in this series, please check them out. You may find them useful no matter what your rank is: Bujinkan Shodan 初段: Searching for the Bull Bujinkan Nidan 弐段: Discovering the Footprints Bujinkan Sandan 参段: Perceiving the Bull Bujinkan Yondan 四段: Catching the Bull Bujinkan Godan 五段: Taming the Bull Passing beyond Godan brings us to a place of creative play. The Bull (mind) obeys without searching about and we don't need to work to constrain it anymore. Woodblock print by 德力富吉郎 Tokuriki Tomikichirō 骑牛归家 Riding the Bull Home Mounting the bull, slowly I return homeward.
 The voice of my flute intones through the evening. Measuring with hand-beats the pulsatin...

Taming the Ox, digital c-print photograph by Andrew Binkley Hatsumi Sensei describes the journey of a Bujinkan student through the Dan ranks as being akin to the Ten Oxherding pictures in Zen Buddhism. These pictures describe the seekers journey to enlightenment. If you haven't read my other posts in this series, please check them out. You may find them useful no matter what your rank is: Bujinkan Shodan 初段: Searching for the Bull Bujinkan Nidan 弐段: Discovering the Footprints Bujinkan Sandan 参段: Perceiving the Bull Bujinkan Yondan 四段: Catching the Bull In the Bujinkan, Godan is marked by the Godan test. You must be free of doubt to pass through this gate. How do we become free of doubt? Woodblock print by 德力富吉郎 Tokuriki Tomikichirō 牧牛 Taming the Bull The whip and rope are necessary, Else he might stray off down some dusty road. Being well-trained, he becomes
 naturally gentle.
 Then, unfettered, he obeys his master. Once you have caught hold of the bul...

Catching the Ox, digital c-print photograph by Andrew Binkley Hatsumi Sensei describes the journey of a Bujinkan student through the Dan ranks as being akin to the Ten Oxherding pictures in Zen Buddhism. These pictures describe the seekers journey to enlightenment. If you haven't read my other posts in this series, please check them out. You may find them useful no matter what your rank is: Bujinkan Shodan 初段: Searching for the Bull Bujinkan Nidan 弐段: Discovering the Footprints Bujinkan Sandan 参段: Perceiving the Bull So now you've made it to Yondan. For many people in the Bujinkan this is a pivotal moment. This is a moment of getting a hold of yourself… and finding the form of the self is empty. Woodblock print by 德力富吉郎 Tokuriki Tomikichirō 得牛 Catching the Bull I seize him with a terrific struggle.
 His great will and power
 are inexhaustible. He charges to the high plateau
 far above the cloud-mists,
 Or in an impenetrable ravine he stands. I have aband...