an old writer and his words

  • TWO HAIKU

    A lone ginkgo leafclings to the now barren branchdefying winter. Great blue Herons stareat the slowly passing cloudsobscuring their home.

    Lou Faber

  • REFRAMED DREAMS

    In my reframed dreamI am sitting in a smoky bar,bathed in the neon of Roppongi.with the sour smell of Sapporo and Asahiwafting up from the beer-damp floor.I don’t want to be here, wantto be miles and miles from this placein the shadows of Mount Wakakusawalking slowly through Todai-jiin search of something I haveyet to find,…

    Lou Faber

  • SAY WHAT?

    In the heart of the night Iam wandering the back streetsand alleys of old Kyoto when Istumble across old Joshu staringplacidly at his acolyte monksgathered closely around him.“I ask you all again,” he says,“does a dog have Buddha Nature?”The monks consider this at length,each afraid to respond incorrectly.In this dream I am a cat out…

    Lou Faber

  • NANQUAN’S “NOTHING SPECIAL”

    While you are sitting zazenfacing the wallif your teachertaps you on the shoulderand asks what you are doinghow do you respond?If you say “I amdoing zazen,”he will frown.If you say “I amfacing the wall,”he will frown, butif you say “I amdoing nothing”he will smile. A reflection on case 87 of Shinji Shobogenzo 真字正法眼蔵 (True Dharma…

    Lou Faber

  • WANDERER

    He wandered into the labyrinthin search of what he could not remember,perhaps sudden enlightenment, perhapsa haloed monk, perhaps his history.He wondered if Buddha wassecretly a saint, if he could bea working man Buddha, if anythingreally mattered, if there was no exit,if there was a way out and at what cost.He hated the silence, knew that…

    Lou Faber

  • YAOSHAN’S “THIS BUDDHA, THAT BUDDHA”

    When you approachthe altar in the zendoto which of the two Buddhasdo you offer a bow?If you say this oneyou are wrong, butif you say that oneyou are wrong.There is only Buddha andthere are infinite Buddhas. A reflection on case 86 of Shinji Shobogenzo 真字正法眼蔵 (True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber

  • SEEKING

    I always wanted to date a Bodhisattvabut despite my efforts I never did find one.I did come across a goddess quite by accidentand it is possible she could becomea Bodhisattva but she is too interestedin worldly affairs to make the gradeand she is certain she is at least two miracles short of sainthood.If she did…

    Lou Faber

  • SHISHUANG’S A SINGLE HAIR PIERCES INNUMERABLE HOLES

    If you ask whenyou might find nirvanaa wise teacherwill tell you that youwill never find it.Do not be downcasthe may add, for youare seeking somethingthat can neverexist in the future.There is only nowso how can therebe a when? A reflection on Case 85 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans (True Dharma Eye) 正法眼蔵

    Lou Faber

  • YUNYAN’S NOT A SINGLE WORD

    A wise teacher will tell you that to fully understandall of the Dharmayou must find a Buddha.If you ask whereyou can find onehe may point to a child.You may ask the childabout dharma andthe child will say nothingrevealing the dharma fully. A reflection on Case 84 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans (True Dharma Eye) 正法眼蔵

    Lou Faber

  • YUNYAN SWEEPS THE GROUND

    If your teacherapproaches you asyou are sitting zazenand asks if youare working hard,how do you answer?If you say yes he willchide you for zazenis not work, butif you say no, hewill tell youto work much harderat your practice. A reflection on Case 83 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans (True Dharma Eye) 正法眼蔵

    Lou Faber