*This is a preliminary and test material with the objective to show the graphic proposal, the presentation of what we propose and the contents of the “Búsquedas” Magazine.
William Segal (1904–2000), philosopher and painter, began his career as a journalist. In the 1940s, he met P. D. Ouspensky and G. I. Gurdjieff. After World War II, through his friendship with Daisetz Suzuki, he was able to spend considerable periods at the main Rinzai and Soto monasteries in Japan. Author of a number of philosophical essays.
“What follows is hardly a literary effort as much as a series of observations on the life of a man of our time. These observations may be of help to those who wish to know themselves, to better understand the human structure, its limitations and its possibilities. They aim to prepare one for a more intelligent, more conscious participation in the transformative process — in short, to indicate a way toward fulfilling one’s role as a true human being.” From the Author’s Note in Opening, Collected Writings of William Segal 1985 – 1997.
SEARCHING FOR THE OX: the boy has only vague presentiments of its existence. The beast has never gone astray and what is the use of searching? The reason why the oxherd is not on intimate terms with him is because the oxherd has violated his own innermost nature. The beast is lost, for the oxherd has been led out of the way through his deluding senses. His home is receding farther from. him, confused by
byways and crossways.
Alone in the wilderness, lost in the jungle,
the boy is searching, searching!
The swelling waters, the far away moi111ta111s,
and the unending path;
Exhausted and in despair, he knows not
where to go,
He only hears the evening cicadas singing
in the maple woods.
FINDING THE TRACKS: in writings and in teachings he begins to get clues. By the aid of the scriptures and by inquiring into the doctrines, he has come to understand something; he has found the traces. He now knows chat vessels, however varied in form, are all of gold, and that the objective world is a reflection of the Self. Yet, he is unable to distinguish what is good from what is not, his mind is still confused as to truth and falsehood.
By the stream and under the trees,
scattered are the traces of the lost;
The sweet-scented grasses are growing
thick–did he find the way?
However remote over the hills and far
away the beast may wander,
His nose reaches the heavens.
SEEING THE OX: he begins to have a glimpse of his own reality.The boy finds the way by the sound he hears; all his senses are in harmonious order; he sees thereby into the origin of things. In all his activities, it is manifest. It is like the salt in water and like glue in color. It is there although not distinguishable as an individual entity. When the eye is properly directed, he will find that it is no other than himself.
On a yonder branch perches a nightingale
cheerfully singing;
The sun is warm, and a soothing breeze
blows; on the bank the willows are green.
The ox is there all by himself, nowhere
is there a place to hide.
The splendid head decorated with stately
horns-what painter can portray him?
CATCHING THE OX: long lost in the wilderness, the boy has at last found the ox and his hands are on him. But, owing to the overwhelming pressure of the outside world, the ox is hard to keep under control. Constantly he longs for the old sweet-scented field. His wild nature is still unruly, and altogether refuses to be broken.
With the energy of his whole being, the
boy has at last taken hold of the ox:
But how wild the ox ‘s will, how ungovernable
his power!
At times he paces upon the plateau,
When lo! he is lost again in a misty
impenetrable mountain pass.
*William Segal, Opening: collected writings of William Segal, 1985-1997 (New York: Continuum, 1998).
