an old writer and his words

  • WHEN YOU MEET A MAN 無門關 三十六

    On the road, you will meet many. Greet each with a silence that speaks loudly. All of the books of the dharma are contained in a single gassho. A reflection on case 36 of the Mumonkan (“The Gateless Gate”)

    Lou Faber

  • THANKFUL

    She said I should be thankful that I am not a rice farmer. She said that I should be thankful that I am not over seven feet tall, and not less than four feet eight inches, although she concedes that four feet nine would not be cause for celebration. She says I should be thankful…

    Lou Faber

  • KEGON RETURNS TO DELUSIONS 鐵笛倒吹 語十二

    If a gentle flower falls from its branch do you mourn its departure. The fool attempts to place it back in the bush, the wise one waits for another flower to appear. Each is the same flower but how will the fool become wise. A reflection on case 52 of the Iron Flute.

    Lou Faber

  • CORSO

    When my back was turned, Corso slipped away somewhere in Wisconsin silently, without protest carried off by Charon across a gasoline river. There was no bomb to announce his departure, no Queens orphanage stopped frozen in a silent moment. In the small park at the north end of Salt Lake City no one lifted a…

    Lou Faber

  • ISAN’S TIME 鐵笛倒吹 十六

    A cold day — how many other winters can you remember, how many future winters can your mind grasp? Can you hold yesterday in the palm of your hand can you wrap tomorrow around your thumb? Between the palms in gassho lies all life and being. A reflection on case 10 of the Iron Flute.

    Lou Faber

  • THE WORLD HONORED ONE ASCENDS

    The student may comment, “Hillel was asked to sum up all of the teaching while standing on one foot and did so.” If this student asks the teacher to provide the essential nature of Dharma in one sitting, what choice does the teacher have but to rise and leave the room. The teacher may comment,…

    Lou Faber

  • AWAITING THE WAVES

    “Describe yourself,” she said “that I might capture you if only for this moment a footprint left once you have departed this place and time.” I am, I should think, biologically plausible though straining the bounds of reason once and again. I tend to philosophic androgyny hovering on the fulcrum of paradox. I am the…

    Lou Faber

  • JIASHAN SEES THE FERRYMAN

    You offer to me that which I cannot take, I refuse to give you the one thing you can accept. We each have nothing and give nothing, and are happy for the perfect gift. A musing on Case 90 of the Shobogenzo (Dogen’s True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber

  • TIME’S ARROW

    Before the after now is present. It was never like this before, it will not be again anytime soon, for there is no time soon that has yet to be or just gone by. After the before we find ourselves here and now.

    Lou Faber

  • NO TWO

    If you ask me whether a dog has Buddha nature, I will stare back at you in total silence. If you ask again, or implore an answer, I will smile at you, offer gassho and a bow. If you ask yet again, I will turn away and you will be left with a box into…

    Lou Faber