an old writer and his words

  • KOYO’S GARUDA BIRD

    When you sit on the cushionthere is only you, there is onlythe cushion, nothing more.When you rise from the cushionwhat becomes of you?Do you change, are youin some way different?But if there is no youif there is only onethen the cushiondoes not matter any longer. A reflection on Case 44 of the Book of Equanimity…

    Lou Faber

  • RAZAN’S ARISING AND VANISHING

    Thoughts comeand thoughts go.You know this, just asyou come and you go.But where do you go,where do thoughts goor were they never real.And if they were not realare you real, orare you a thought? A reflection on case 43 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • WHERE?

    If here,nowis no longerhere, nowas you read thisthen whereis there?Of course neitherhere nor nowstill existsonly words do.So perhapsthere is no here,there is no nowand we muststop thinkingof time, of placeand simply be.

    Lou Faber

  • NANYO’S WASHBASIN

    If you sayyou have seenthe Buddhayou are blind.If you sayyou are a Buddhayou are deluded.If you sayyou wish to bea Buddha youwill never be. A reflection on Case 42 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • RAKUHO’S LAST MOMENTS

    If you sit before the teacherand he asks you “how isyour practice, good or not”how do you answer?If you say your practiceis good, your teacherwill call you a liar.If you say your practiceis not good, your teacherwill tell you to practice. A reflection on Case 41 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • BAMBOO

    Walking through a small groveof bamboo, the breeze evokesa creaking until you need to lookto insure the tall spindlesare not about to collapse on you. A small child seeing you knowswhat you are thinking, smilesand says “they are just sayinghello, so you should say hello back.” Her parents appear flustered, whetherbecause she is talking to…

    Lou Faber

  • RAKUHO’S LAST MOMENTS

    If I ask you “do youwish to find enlightenment,”how do you answer?If you say you doyou are yet another stepin the wrong direction.If you say you do notwish to find enlightenment,why are you practicing?If you sit on the cushionin total silence saying nothingyour answer willecho off the walls. A reflection on Case 41 of the…

    Lou Faber

  • UMMON’S WHITE AND BLACK

    If you come upon a masterand he says “give me your answer,”how do you respond?You cannot say to himthat he has not asked a questionfor that would be an answerto a question you sayhas not been given.Better you should bow to himand sit silently before him. A reflection on Case 40 of the Book of…

    Lou Faber

  • THE HERMIT

    The hermit livesin the shadowof the great mountainlistening to the symphonyof the bluebirdand the wild Roseengulfed by the sky,the meandering streamhis constant companion.I live in a cityin a sea of city dwellerseach of us prisonersmarching from cellto cell, with passing nods.we hear only solitudeand are blindto the ever shifting clouds.Kuan Yin sitsin her templeand whispers…

    Lou Faber

  • JOSHU’S BOWL-WASHING

    When you sit before your teacherhe may ask you a simple question,why, perhaps, your robeis not tied, why, perhaps,your posture is slumping.If you sit and answer,he will dismiss you, butif you stand and tie your robe,sit down in a good posturehe will give you gasshoand send you on your path. A reflection on Case 39…

    Lou Faber