an old writer and his words

  • NO MIND, NO BUDDHA 無門關 三十三

    Baso knows well only the ox truly understands the yoke but if you offer it the ox will not accept. Why would you seek to become the ox as it would be better to burn the yoke. A reflection on Case 33 of the Mumonkan (The Gateless Gate Koans)

    Lou Faber

  • NANSEN’S ORDINARY MIND 無門關 十九

    Why seek the way? Would yo?. Where is the way? You are standing on it Which way does it lead? Ask your feet. A reflection on case 19 of the Mumonkan (The Gateless Gate Koans)

    Lou Faber

  • I’M LOOKING, SHOW YOURSELF

    I’ve been searching for a teacher for such a long time but despite every effort, the goal eludes me They say that when the student is ready the teacher appears, but i know in my heart I am truly ready. I looked in all of the likely and a number of unlikely places, to the…

    Lou Faber

  • EVER SO BRIEFLY (3 HAIKU)

    listen carefully to the sound of the great bell before being struck cat stares at Buddha pigeons flock to ignore him people see nothing there is no city inside the large gate, only Buddha and pigeons

    Lou Faber

  • A WINTER MEDITATION

    I have given up on winter, which is to say that I have fled its iron grip, but the memories I have linger painfully in the rods the surgeon carefully screwed onto my spine. It wasn’t the cold, though it was far from pleasant, but the snow that demanded but also defied being shoveled. I…

    Lou Faber

  • COUNTING TIME

    I was honored to have this recently published in Arena Magazine: A Magazine of Critical Thinking, Issue 162 from Victoria, Australia This river has for endless time flowed from the distant hills on its winding path to the waiting sea. The river has no need of clocks, cares little whether the Sun, Moon or clouds…

    Lou Faber

  • RISHO’S POEM 鐵笛倒吹 三十語

    Have you been here – who will know? The sun and moon record your journey. What you release gathers joyously around you, what you cling to flies off on the slightest breeze, mountain and cloud enfold each other. Will you join them? A reflection on case 35 of the Iron Flute Koans

    Lou Faber

  • TWO HAIKU

    the morning dew smiles the rising sun stares deeply later a merger the egret stands fixed wishing he was a statue the rippling pond laughs

    Lou Faber

  • GROVE

    Living in a bamboo grove, she said, is very much like living in an old house. Look up at noon, into the canopy and imagine you see rays of light piercing the ill-thatched roof. Listen to the growing winds or autumn and hear the ghosts of the old house making their way up creaking stairs.…

    Lou Faber

  • TAISHU’S DREAM 鐵笛倒吹 三十

    In your dream you set out along your path passing countless monks each of who offered gassho. On awakening you asked to be pointed to the Way. Why didn’t you ask the dream monks and why do you assume that was the dream and this is awakening? A reflection on Case 30 of the Iron…

    Lou Faber