an old writer and his words

  • MAYOKU THUMPS HIS STAFF

    If as you walkalong the wayyou come acrossa small bird’s nestfallen to the groundits eggs intact,you place itback on the branchwithout a thought. If as you walk onand come acrossanother small bird’s nestfallen to the groundits eggs intactyou place itback on the branchbecause it pleases you. One right thoughtand right action,one wrong thoughtand wrong action,how…

    Lou Faber

  • LOOKING FOR WORDS

    They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Perhaps so, but many pictures don’t travel in verbose company, and there are pictures worth far, far less, although some will search until the magic thousand are found. In Japan a story can be told in seventeen syllables, a picture painted with a single brushstroke. In…

    Lou Faber

  • KYOZAN PLANTS HIS MATTOCK

    In your endless searchfor enlightenment,the best course, the only courseis to stop looking. It may strike you,unexpected or it mayarise without your seeingas you continue your practice. You say there are many Buddhasand you are correct, but I saythere is but one Buddha and Iam also correct, and you arethat one Buddha and I amthat…

    Lou Faber

  • SIN

    A poet suggested that sinwas created by the Christians,wrong, of course, but perhapsjust being politically correctin not naming the Jews asits creator, or at leastgiving it a name and rulebook. And on the point of accuracythe poet might have notedthat the Jews createdthe Christians, for Jesuswas one of them, a reformerbefore Judaism would allowanything beyond…

    Lou Faber

  • RINZAI’S BLIND DONKEY

    When your teacherhands you the dharmawhat do you find in your hands? What will you dowith the dharma you are given,where will you keep it,or will you give it awayin silence, and in suchgiving have it with youat all times and places. A reflection on Case 13 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • SYMMETRY

    There is a certain perfectsymmetry in both lifeand death. We do not rememberthe moment at whichwe were born. We will not rememberthe the moment at whichwe will die. We did not fearthe moment at whichwe were born why then should we fearthe moment at whichwe will die?

    Lou Faber

  • JIZO PLANTS THE FIELD

    As you searchthrough the Dharmawhat is it you hope to find? When you ask your teacherto explain the Dharma, whatdo you expect him to tell you? Do you cling to Dharmabecause it is there, unchanging,a guide to the end of your search? Better to live the preceptsfully, present in every moment,waking, working, eatingand even sleeping…

    Lou Faber

  • UMMON’S TWO SICKNESSES

    As you wanderyour path, what is itthat you search for? When you seekinstruction from a masterwhat is it you expecthim to provide you? When you sitstill on the cushionyou may find a momentof kensho, butlabeling that momentdestroys it. Enlightenment cannotbe describedfor attaching wordsbrings it to the groundas rubble aroundyour feet. A reflection on Case 11…

    Lou Faber

  • JOSHU SEES THROUGH THE OLD WOMAN

    When, on the path,you com across a problemyou cannot solveyou may turnto your teacherand ask forthe solution. Do not expectan answerfor your teacherhas none, butif you listen carefullyto his silent breathin and out,he will lead youto the answer. A reflection on Casew 10 of the Book of Equanimity (SHôYôROKU 従容錄)

    Lou Faber

  • NANSEN CUTS A CAT

    You are a searcher, youlook for answers, you lookfor the right paththat will lead youto enlightenment. You see everythingas black or white, goodor bad, right or wrong.You are a masterat division. Stop searching, stopseeking answers, stopdividing, then sitwith Nansen’s cat.That will be enough. A reflection on case 8 of the Book of Equanimity

    Lou Faber