In this beloved Zen Buddhist allegory, a boy is searching for his missing ox--his true self. And once he finds it, he struggles to tame and train it. For the journey of the young ox herder is also the story of our journey toward enlightenment. Award-winning author, Demi, presents the traditional story with all the simplicity of Zen Buddhist art. An appendix provides details on Zen Buddhism and the oxherding pictures.
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In this beloved Zen Buddhist allegory, a boy is searching for his missing ox--his true self. And once he finds it, he struggles to tame and train it. For the journey of the young ox herder is also the story of our journey toward enlightenment. Award-winning author, Demi, presents the traditional story with all the simplicity of Zen Buddhist art. An appendix provides details on Zen Buddhism and the oxherding pictures.
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Seller's Description:
Fine. Picture book. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 32 p. Contains: Illustrations, color. Intended for a juvenile audience. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. Picture book. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 32 p. Contains: Illustrations, color. Intended for a juvenile audience. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
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Ships same day or next. Good condition with minor shelf wear. Unread copy. Never opened and text is like-new. Expedited shipping available at checkout for domestic orders.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fine. Picture book. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 32 p. Contains: Illustrations, color. Intended for a juvenile audience. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. Picture book. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 32 p. Contains: Illustrations, color. Intended for a juvenile audience. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
A famous Zen Buddhist story tells of a young boy who loses his ox. He searches for and gradually discovers the ox. He is able to catch and tame the beast and ride it home. The lad and the ox both forget about their struggles and their anger and find joy, which they share with their friends. The story is illustrated with a series of, most often, ten paintings.
The renowned children's author and illustrator, Demi, has written and illustrated the Oxherding Parable in her beautiful book "Zen and the Ten Oxherding Pictures", intended for children between four and eight years of age. The book consists of ten illustrations within circles of the states of the young oxherder's, named Zen, search, for his ox. An empty circle serves as the ninth picture, followed by Zen's and the ox's triumphal reunion with friends. Each illustration is accompanied by a brief text on the facing page, also in a circle.
Broadly, the Oxhearding Parable speaks of the need to control one's unruly mind and impulses and come to a state of selflessness. It is stated and illustrated briefly, but may take a long time to understand and still longer to realize -- much longer than a short walk in the country to recover a lost ox. The Oxherding Parable is difficult for adults, not to speak of young children, and much has been written about it.
In adition to illustrating and retelling the Oxhearding Parable, Demi has added, within her circles, a discussion of the Zen Oxherding Pictures and a discussion about Zen Buddhism. These discussions will be suitable for adults reading the book with children rather than for children themselves. Children might read and look at the pictures in the company of a parent or teacher and then discuss their understanding of the story. Concepts such as "ego" or "selflessness" of course will be beyond what children are likely to see in the parable.
The book is published by Wisdom Tales Press as part of a series for children which includes spiritual and religious stories from around the world. This Zen parable will be unfamiliar to many. The themes of this book and other books in the series are valuable for children and for the adults who share the stories with them. I was glad to be reminded of and to think about the Oxherding Parable with Demi through this book.
Wisdom Tales Press kindly provided me with a copy for review.