TEN BULLS

Written By Duane Nelson


2 IDEAS FROM ME

  • The Ten Bulls of Zen, Hero’s Journey, and Plato’s Cave frameworks all trace the soul’s path from ignorance and dissatisfaction to truth. Each begins with longing or unrest, moves through trials and self-discovery, and ends in return—transformed and ready to serve. Whether taming the bull, surviving the dark night of the soul, or escaping the cave, the core is awakening: shedding ego, embracing reality, transcending adversity, and living with clarity, meaning, and peace. All three affirm that true enlightenment leads back to wisdom and compassionate service.

  • As we age, the roles and identities that once defined us—career, status, appearance—begin to fall away. The Ten Bulls remind us that peace arises not from clinging, but from release. In taming and then forgetting the bull (ego/self), we are freed from the illusion that we must prove or achieve something to be worthy. This acceptance brings a serene clarity: being is enough. The final stage shows the awakened one re-entering daily life with “open hands.” In later years, this means embracing life not with resistance, but with generosity and presence. With fewer distractions, we can listen more deeply, love more freely, and help others do the same. Aging, through this lens, becomes a spiritual service—not to fear decline, but to embody grace, freedom, and presence—the quiet power of a life well-lived. The end of striving is the beginning of deep connection and contribution.

2 QUOTES FROM SAGES

  • “First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.”—Zen Proverb

  • “To return to the source is to find peace. To know the source is to find meaning.”—Stage Nine - Ten Bulls of Zen

1 QUESTION FOR YOU TO EXPLORE

  • What stages of the Ten Bulls framework have you experienced?

Namaste,

Duane Nelson

Duane Nelson

Ultrajourney Insight is an Anacortes Washington-based non-profit organization providing mindfulness & well-being services designed to ignite the adventure of a lifetime. The founder, Duane Nelson, is a writer, speaker, and teacher with four decades of parenting, wilderness, & international technology leadership. His professional insights come from chemical engineering and automation leadership at Philips, Intel, and Amazon. His adventure insights flow from ultramarathons, mountaineering, canyoneering, and adventure racing in Nepal, Alaska, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Mexico, British Columbia and Alberta.

https://ultrajourneyinsight.org
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