WATER BUFFALO

[Terri Benning]

Spirit of the Water Buffalo: Strength, Service, Dedication, Connection to the Earth Mother

Connections with Mesopotamia, Sumeria, Sacred Animal of Lao Tsu.
http://sambali.blogspot.com/2005_05_15_archive.html

Lao Tsu and Taoism

Legend says that in the end Lao Tzu, saddened by the evil of men, set off into the desert on a water buffalo leaving civilization behind. When he arrived at the final gate at the great wall protecting the kingdom, the gatekeeper persuaded him to record the principles of his philosophy for posterity. The result was the eighty-one sayings of the “Tao-Te Ching.” This ancient Chinese text is the world’s most translated classic next to the Bible.

Water Buffalo (Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Buffalo

Swamp Buffalo (Australia)
http://www.wildspeak.com/animalenergies/swampbuffalo.html

Swamp Buffalo (Southeast Asia)
http://sambali.blogspot.com/2004/12/water-buffalo.html

Water Buffalo is associated with the Goddess:

Hsi Ho = Chinese Mother

Her Direction is Center.

Her symbol is Sun.

Call on her to manage Spring, Weather, Divination, Harvest, Hope and Luck .

Her totems are Bear and Water Buffalo.

GO TO: AMERICAN BUFFALO/BISON or EUROPEAN BUFFALO (Winset)

[Terri Benning]

Reply by Yvonne on October 12, 2009 at 1:01pm
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I have always loved bovines of all kinds! Being a Taurus has maybe helped that, maybe I chose Taurus 'cause I love cows - either way, I love 'em!

So I was very excited when I got the Water Buffalo in my totem. I immediately Googled it and received all kinds of cool info.

The very best thing I found was a poem by Lao Tsu about Water Buffalo Wisdom (translated by Hua-ching Ni)

In high truth,
is there any difference
between yes and no?
Between good and evil,
is there any absolute
distinction?
Must one fear what
everyone fears?
Is it still too early for
the subtle truth
to dance on those who
are so self-assertive.

The people of the world
run about excitedly as
if they
were going to miss the
yearly, royal,
sacrificial feast,
or as if they were
going to be the last one
to climb a high tower
on a beautiful Spring
day.
I alone remain quiet
and indifferent.
I anchor my being to
that which existed
before Heaven and
Earth were formed.
I alone am innocent
and unknowing,
like a newborn babe.
Unoccupied by worldly
cares,
I move forward to
nowhere.

The people of the world
have more than
enough.
I alone appear to have
nothing.
The people of the world
appear shrewd and
wise.
I alone look foolish.
I like to be forgotten by
the world and left
alone.

Indeed I have the
mind of a single
person!
Calm and self-
contained, I am like the
vast ocean.
Free and seemingly
aimless, I am like a
gentle wind.

Everyone seems so
clever and self-
assured.
I alone appear
unlearned and
original,
insistent upon a
different direction
than other people
pursue.
I alone value taking
my sustenance
from the Mother.