an old writer and his words

  • SEEING YOU AGAIN

    I saw you again yesterday, as I haveso often recently and once again thoughtof approaching you for there is muchI would like to know about you and howwe ended up in the same place.But once again I sensed that youwanted solitude, wanted notto be disturbed, not to be questioned.You did smile briefly, a momentarysoftening of…

    Lou Faber

  • NO MIND IS THE WAY

    If you ask a teacherto show you the Waya wise teacher will saythat there is no Wayto show you, for you,waiting for his answerare looking outsideyourself whilethe Way waits within. A reflection on case 76 of the Shobogenzo, Dogen’s True Dharma Eye 正法眼蔵

    Lou Faber

  • MIMOYAN’S PITCHFORK

    When you sitbefore the teacherand he asks whatis it you seekfrom him, if you answerhe will say he cannotgive you whatyou already have.If you say nothingand stay silenthe will say the worldis all yours. A reflection on case 73 of the Shobogenzo, Dogen’s True Dharma Eye 正法眼蔵

    Lou Faber

  • THE PAPER

    He was 11 when he first discovered it. Jimmy knew immediately that (1) it was something remarkable, (2) he didn’t understand it at all, and (3) he dare not let his parents know he had it. It was (3) that gave him the most worry. Not what they would do to him if they discovered…

    Lou Faber

  • SUIGAN’S EYEBROWS

    If you sitwith two teachersand ask themto explain the Dharmaeach may givea different answer.Both are right,both are wrong.Which do you believe?Does it matter? A reflection on Case 71 of The Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • ALWAYS

    There were always morequestions than answers.There were always morewrongs than rights.There were always morehungry ones than food.There was always moreanger than compassion.There were always moredays of war than days of peace.There were always moreself-righteous than righteous.There were always morepeople than this planetneeded or could support.

    Lou Faber

  • RYUTETSUMA’S OLD COW

    If you go beforeyour teacherhe may ask you whyyou are there.If you answerhe may turn away.If you sitsilently on the cushionand look at himhis silence and smilewill transmitthe dharma to you. A reflection on Case 60 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • SEPPO’S “WHAT’S THIS?”

    If you standat the feet of a masterwill you ask himto express all of zenin a single word?If he is silent, thatis all you need to know,your question answered. A reflection on Case 50 of The Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • TOZAN OFFERS TO THE ESSENCE

    When you sitbefore the teacherand ask him to explainthe meaning of the dharmawhat do you expecthe will say to you.If he answers youwhat did you learn?If he remains silentwhat did you learn?Is there any difference? A reflection on Case 49 of The Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • A VISIT

    I used to say that my birth parents,both dead before I could give them names,her youthful face from yearbooks,come to me now in my dreams.Of course that isn’t true, theydid not come to me in my dreamsdespite my hollow invitationsso I went to them, for they no longertravel very much, preferring to stayin their well-maintained…

    Lou Faber