an old writer and his words

  • KARMA

    The birds offered metheir blessing this morningbefore lifting gracefullyfrom our wetlandinto another cloudless sky.They did so reluctantly,the blessing I mean,knowing what my specieswas capable of, whatwe had already doneto their ancestral habitats.They blessed me regardlessfor they understoodthe laws of karmaand would not wantto be forced in the next lifeto return as human beings.

    Lou Faber

  • RINZAI’S GREAT ENLIGHTENMENT

    If you ask your teacherto tell you all you needto know of Buddhismdo not expect to receivethe dharma, to hearthe teacher recite sutras.A truly wise teacherwill tap you on the headand show you to the door. A reflection on Case 86 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • THREE HAIKU

    music of kotogently washes angry wallsspring robin is born lightening etches cloudsarching over the cityspring rain approaches rising sun castsits glow on the shirred mirrorof the reservoir

    Lou Faber

  • BREATHING

    Somewhere at this very momenta baby takes its first breath,a man dies unexpectedly,a fledgeling bird takes flight,a star is bornor enters its death throes,one of the last of a species is gone,a battle is fought in a senseless war,a waterway is fouled with pollution,smog grips a city,an old man clings to memories.I am still aliveand…

    Lou Faber

  • MY JUDAS

    He, the one I called brotherwanted whatever I hadto give, a droit deprimogeniture, and Icould easily be cast aside,a genetic other with claimonly of time, not blood.Why did they concede to himor were they aware?It hardly matters nowfor they are gone, sheto rest with her daughter,he I know not wherefor there was nothingin the text…

    Lou Faber

  • ALL TOO SOON

    We know it is a matter of timebefore the rains will come,the hurricanes will wailand inundate our world.We have planned for thisand we know we are not ready.We will be overwhelmedas we are each time, homeslost to floods that risefrom an angry ocean tiredof not being heeded.We will bail, pump and mop,wage a losing battleagainst…

    Lou Faber

  • THE NATIONAL TEACHER’S SEAMLESS TOMB

    If a teacher asks youwhether you are searchingfor this or for thathow do you answer him?If you say for thishe will frown, butif you say for thathe will also frown.If you say there isno this or that,there only is,he will smile the smileof the Buddha. A reflection on Case 84 of the Book of Equanimity…

    Lou Faber

  • A PEELING

    Why do we persistin peeling the onionas if expecting wewill find anythingother than onion below?We cling to false hopeknowing in the endthere will be nothingdespite our efforts.We are the oneswho curse the coreof the apple asspace taken wherefruit should benever imaginingthere could be nofruit if nature choseto grant our wish.

    Lou Faber

  • EDGING

    We are good at borders.As much as we like drawing them,taking a bit more perhapsthan we ought, settling if forcedfor what is right or at least just,we like crossing them more.There is adventure in crossinga border, more so if you can do itwithout being invited, seenor captured and turned away.How do you think we got…

    Lou Faber

  • HELPLESS

    When night finally concedes,and departs for the horizondragging off my dreamsand pulling its shadow behind itinto a thickening fog, a scrimthat hides the dawn’s arrival,I realize what has been lost.I have tried to grasp dreamsas they recede but it is graspinglimpid mercury that obeys nodirection or request save thatof gravity, and that reluctantly.They will be…

    Lou Faber