an old writer and his words

  • DOGO’S NURSING

    If the teacher asksyou how is your practiceyou may tell himthat it is not good,or you may tell himthat it is good.Both answersare wrong, for howdo you measure goodand not good?Practice is onlypractice, zazenis only zazen. A reflection on Case 83 of the Book of Equanimity, Shoyoroku 従容錄

    Lou Faber

  • HISTORY

    When he said he wanted to be a historianeven his parents laughed at him, remindinghim that “there’s no money to be madein history unless you want to be a teacher,and you are so much better than that.”He knew they wanted him to becomea doctor, or failing that, at least a lawyer.Few were surprised when, in…

    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

  • NANQUAN’S “NOTHING SPECIAL”

    While you are sitting zazenfacing the wallif your teachertaps you on the shoulderand asks what you are doinghow do you respond?If you say “I amdoing zazen,”he will frown.If you say “I amfacing the wall,”he will frown, butif you say “I amdoing nothing”he will smile. A reflection on case 87 of Shinji Shobogenzo 真字正法眼蔵 (True Dharma…

    Lou Faber

  • SHISHUANG’S A SINGLE HAIR PIERCES INNUMERABLE HOLES

    If you ask whenyou might find nirvanaa wise teacherwill tell you that youwill never find it.Do not be downcasthe may add, for youare seeking somethingthat can neverexist in the future.There is only nowso how can therebe a when? A reflection on Case 85 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans (True Dharma Eye) 正法眼蔵

    Lou Faber

  • YUNYAN’S NOT A SINGLE WORD

    A wise teacher will tell you that to fully understandall of the Dharmayou must find a Buddha.If you ask whereyou can find onehe may point to a child.You may ask the childabout dharma andthe child will say nothingrevealing the dharma fully. A reflection on Case 84 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans (True Dharma Eye) 正法眼蔵

    Lou Faber

  • TO BE

    He had wondered what it would be liketo be a Buddha, I mean, he thought, doBuddhas know they are Buddhas ordoes someone have to tell them, andif so, how does that person knowthat this person must be a Buddha?He wasn’t sure he wanted to becomea Buddha since no one could explainwhat possible benefit there would…

    Lou Faber

  • DONGSHAN’S “NO GRASS”

    If you ask a masterto point you in the directionof the path to enlightenmenthe may tell youthat it is a long trek,that you must walkten miles, turn left,walk ten miles, turn left,walk ten miles, turn leftand then walk ten miles.If you chooseto remain where you areyou will have arrived. A reflection on Case 82 of…

    Lou Faber

  • YUNMEN’S EVERYONE’S LIGHT

    If you say that youare seeking the lightof the dharmaa wise teacher willoffer you darkness.If you say you wishthe dark warmth of dharmathe wise teacher willoffer you light.When you see thatlight and darknessare the same, thenyou will havefully grasped dharma. A reflection on Case 81 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans (True Dharma Eye) 正法眼蔵

    Lou Faber