an old writer and his words

  • GOZO AND THE FOURTH ANCESTOR 正法眼蔵 語十一

    If you sitI will bring you a flowerbut it will fall.If you walkweeds will grow upbetween your toes.Flower, weed and youare born and dieeach feedingall of the others. A reflection on case 51 of the Shobogenzo Koans (Dogen’s True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber

  • BASO’S WHITE AND BLACK

    I know you havea single question for whichan answer will enlighten you.Neither Baso, Chizo nor Kaiare here so you are asking me. The answer is simple:cover your ears tightlyand listen while I speakwith closed mouth,watch my feet dancein joy as they do not move.If the answer is not apparent,ask Chizo, Baso and Kaito speak from…

    Lou Faber

  • SIEGAN’S COST OF RICE

    How long have you wanderedalways searching for the oneanswer, the hidden truththat, when revealed to you,will show you enlightenment? Where have you searchedfor this one truth, onethat will collapse the past,present and future intoa single moment of purepresence which you can graspand carry with you through life? Stop and ask the infantstrapped to his mother’s…

    Lou Faber

  • THE WORLD-HONORED ONE POINTS TO THE EARTH

    As you wander aroundlooking for a placeto build a temple,looking for eden,looking for nirvana,stop and simply sit,listen to the breezeteaching you the Dharma,the clouds chantingthe sutras in a harmonybeyond your hearing.Look down for youare in your temple,sitting in edennirvana at your feet. A reflection on case 4 of the Book of Equanimity Koans

    Lou Faber

  • COMING BACK

    He appears, rising from the horizonthe sun at his back, as if a miragetaking physical shape and form. He approaches slowly, your eyesstraining to separate himfrom the sun’s growing glow. You wonder if his is a holy manrobed and with a staff, walkingto announce his long awaited return. As he grows closer, you realizehe is…

    Lou Faber

  • AN INVITATION FOR THE PATRIARCH

    Do not ask meto recite the DharmaWhen I am breathingthere is only breath inand breath out.Be like the poor manlost and wanderinggoing nowhere, eachbreath the only breath.Having nothing, simplybeing. A reflection on case 3 of the Book of Equanimity Koans

    Lou Faber

  • TOZAN’S TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN 正法眼蔵 四十九

    When you are askedto climb to the topof the mountain and lookin all directionsand report who you see,if you see no one, howwill you respond?Close your eyesand tell me,am I still here? A reflection on case 49 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans (True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber

  • RETIRED

    God sits at his easel, brush in handand thinks about the butterflyalighting on the oak.This man would rather paintthe nightmare of hell, buthe has been cast out andhis memory has grown dim.He remembers being a small childamused by the worm peeringfrom soil in a fresh rain and howwhen he split it, both halveswould slither awayin…

    Lou Faber

  • KISO CUTS A SNAKE 正法眼蔵 四十三

    Snakes, like coins,have both head and tail.If I cut a snake in two,have I two snakes,or none at all?Walk carefullyfor the spadethat cuts the snakecan dig an inescapable abyss. A reflection on case 43 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans (True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber

  • KYOSEI’S BUDDHADHARMA 正法眼蔵 三十九

    If you ask whenis the best timeto seek wisdom Iwill tell youat the stroke of midnightand I will walkon a lighter left foot.If you ask the next daywhen is the best timeto seek wisdomI will tell youat highest noonand I will walkon a lighter right foot. A reflection on Case 39 of Dogen’s Shoboganzo Koans…

    Lou Faber