an old writer and his words

  • BROKEN TRAY 鐵笛倒吹 九十

    If you accidentally breaka wise man’s possessiondo you leave himwith one that is incompleteor two awaiting completion. If he asks you to replace ityou may search endlessly,bring him a thousand replacementsbut expect him to reject each oneas never being the sameas the original.If you grow dejected, rememberhe still has the originalin the cupboard. A reflection…

    Lou Faber

  • JOSHU MEASURE THE WATER

    When your mind is ragingthoughts flowing, eddyingwhen you enter the zendowhat do you do in sitting? Do you take your stickand measure the waterto insure a safe fording,or do you sit amid the streamand let the floodwash over and around youdry and silent within? A reflection on case 47 of the Iron Flute Koans

    Lou Faber

  • BLOSSOM

    I remember the cherry treesalong the reflecting pool, thoughexcept in April they mostly reflecteda partially clouded sky promising rain. Their pinkness was a tone I havesearched for since, and cameclosest in Tokyo, jealous of the emperorand his gardens so carefully tended. It is that time again, and this yearas in so many past, I will…

    Lou Faber

  • DUGO AND UNGAN MEET

    When your mind is ragingthoughts flowing, eddyingwhen you enter the zendowhat do you do in sitting? Do you take your stickand measure the waterto insure a safe fording,or do you sit amid the streamand let the floodwash over and around youdry and silent within? A reflection on Case 36 of the Iron Flute Koans

    Lou Faber

  • SŌZAN’S NO CHANGE 正法眼蔵 三十

    In entering, do you arriveor are you leaving.In departing do you leaveor are you arriving.Can the gate answeror does it chooseto remain silent.The mountain shoutsthe answer but onlythe river can hear it. A reflection on case 30 of the Dogen’s Shobogenzo (The True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber

  • THIS VERY MIND 無門關 三十

    You are forever seekingthe path, as thoughit will give you a sign. Seeking the Buddha is goodbut looking for himis ultimate futilityfor the eyes are incapableof looking within. A reflection on case 30 of the Mumonkan (the Gateless Gate Koans)

    Lou Faber

  • A MOMENT

    He would be the first to admitthat he hated most things avant-gardeparticularly when it appliedto either art or music.It was simply a matter of beingin the moment, and he knewyou could not be ahead of timefor there was only the momentin which you were in.

    Lou Faber

  • SIMPLICITY

    It is simply a matterOf putting one footIn front of the otherIt all follows from that.But which foot goes first,He asked, I’d hateTo get off on the wrong one?

    Lou Faber

  • IDEOGRAPHING MIND 鐵笛倒吹 四十六

    If you will mark your gatewhat word will you use,what for the door, whatfor the window?The gate knows quite wellwhat it is, as to door and windowand need no marking. Even the fool knowsthrough each youmay enter the house,but even the wise mancannot tell youhow the house may enter you. A reflection on case 46…

    Lou Faber

  • CAT (PSYCH)OLOGY

    It wasn’t until I hitmiddle age, which on my scalewill allow me to live past 100,that I discovered that catsare Celtic deep in their hearts.Our cat, she who adopted meand forced her then ownerto marry me, like it or not,was in love with the tin whistleand the uilleann pipes playinghad her in my lap, unmoving.But…

    Lou Faber