an old writer and his words

  • UMMON’S SOUNDS AND SHAPES

    What is the soundof enlightenment?What is the colorof nirvana?How do youperceive enlightenmentand see nirvana?A sound maybring enlightenmentif you do not hear it,a color may leadyou to nirvanaif you do not see it. A reflection on Case 82 of the Book of Equanimity, Shoyoroku 従容錄

    Lou Faber

  • THREE HAIKU

    in truly livingtime should be of no matterthere is only now the great egret knowsthat the sky is a sanctumdenied to humans still dreaming of flightmy feet sink ever deeperin the mud of life

    Lou Faber

  • GENSHA COMES TO THE PROVINCE

    When you siton the cushiondo not let your mindcompare this zazento yesterday’s orimagine tomorrow’s.Those are the thoughtsof a fool for yesterdayand tomorrow are,in this moment,only illusions. A reflection on Case 81 of the Book of Equanimity, Shoyoroku 従容錄

    Lou Faber

  • OMOTESANDO

    When I would visit TokyoI often went to Shibuya where,on the second floor of an old buildingon Omotesando, a block printmerchant shared space withsouvenir vendors and artists.I would pick out prints that werereasonably priced, imagingfor a moment the were by Hokusaior Hiroshige, although I knew whatthey would cost if I could find them.Still, I’d carefully…

    Lou Faber

  • RYUGE PASSES THE CHIN REST

    You say you area seeker asking this teacherand that teacher to giveyou the dharmaand the knowledgeof how to attainenlightenment.Each teacher merelystrikes you withthe keisakuso you move on.Each teacherhas given youthe heart of dharma,why can’t you see it? A reflection on Case 80 of the Book of Equanimity, Shoyoroku 従容錄

    Lou Faber

  • CHOSHA ADVANCES A STEP

    If you are askedby your teacherhow your practiceis going, will you sayit goes wellor will you sayit goes badly.If you say eitherthe teacher may frown.But the teacherwill smile whenyou say it goesand nothing more. A reflection on case 79 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • UMMON’S FARM RICE CAKE

    If you tell a masterthat you want to tastethe full richness of Buddhismdo not be surprisedif he smilesand hands youa glass of pureunflavored water. A reflection on case 78 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • LINGZHAO’S “BRIGHT AND CLEAR”

    If your teacher asks youwhat you wish to learnabout Buddhism,what do you answer?If you ask your teacherwhat he wishes to teachyou about Buddhismhe may say nothing.He has given youa great lesson,learn it well. A reflection on case 88 of Shinji Shobogenzo 真字正法眼蔵 (True Dharma Eye)

    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