The Ten Oxherding Pictures is a metaphoric description of the stages of the spiritual journey.

The search, therefore, begins not as a quaint longing but a desperate need.

In silence, when our intellect is exhausted, a path begins to be visible as tracks come to the fore.

As we are following the tracks, deepening our practice, the glue that holds the small self together becomes less and less effectual and at some point, we catch a glimpse of our true nature.

There is wrestling with ego - we can now shift our perspective and see it for what it is - strong and stubborn.

We are slowly modeling clarity and turning our principles into expression.

We begin to truly recognize our true nature and it begins to infuse our activity as we steep in it.

The various vain cares of the small self drop away and we see through the eyes of the universe.

Now the self, once transformed, is utterly shot through.

We enjoy the truth that we have integrated and embodied.