an old writer and his words

  • ISAN’S KARMIC CONSCIOUSNESS

    If the Master sees youand calls out your name,will you answer?If you ask him a questionand he does not respond,is that his answer?And if he does answerhow do you knowif the answer is correct?If you ask him nothingall his answers are perfect. A reflection on Case 37 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • ME AND MY . . .

    I didn’t stopto think it at all oddthat when I walked backwardthis morning my shadowdecided to walk ahead of me.I was going to ask him whyhe decided to lead, butas I turned to walk backto the car he fell insilently behind meand refused to answeras the clouds came over usand he slipped away again.

    Lou Faber

  • BASO’S ILLNESS

    If I ask youhow long weboth will live,how will you answer?The answeris simple, buthidden, for we bothwill live untilthe momentwe do not,and there isonly this momentanyway. A reflection on Case 36 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • UMMON’S FREE-STANDING PILLAR

    When you askhow you can getfrom where you areto Nirvanaa wise teacher willtell you there isno there.There is only hereand this is Nirvana.Then he will askyou the greater question–who are you really?How will you answer? A reflection on Case 31 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • JIZO’S NOT KNOWING IS THE MOST INTIMATE

    When you comebefore your teacherand he asks youwhat is it exactlythat you are looking for,what is it that youexpect finally to attain,how will you answer him?If you say you are seekingenlightenment, he will laughand send you away,but if you answerthat you do not know,he will hand youan empty bowland tell you to go fill it.…

    Lou Faber

  • FAMILIES USE IT DAILY

    If I ask you awhere you are standingwhat will you answer?If I ask youwhere I am standingwhat will you answer?If I ask you aif we are standingin the same placeand you answer yesa blow from the stick,if you answer noa blow from the stick,if you answer nothinga blow from the stick. A reflection on Case…

    Lou Faber

  • HIMAGAN’S PITCHFORK

    If you go in searchof the way, youmay come across a sage.He will ask youwhy you seek it.If you answer,he will strikea deadly blow,if you do not answerhe will strikea deadly blow.Grasp his armsand carry himwith you. A reflection on Case 73 of the Shobogenzo (True Dharma Eye) Koans

    Lou Faber

  • FOUR WETLAND HAIKU

    Apple Snail shellbleached by the sun, emptyhappy Snail Kite Great Egret sitting stillwaiting, simply waitingthen flying off Red-shouldered hawkstaring into the distanceendless patience Pig frog croakingbut the moon will not answerwe fall asleep

    Lou Faber

  • UNANSWERED

    There are so many questions for which I have never gotten an answer. What, for instance, does one who is lactose intolerant cry over? If the rest is history, can’t we just stop now and read it later? And if every cloud has that silver lining, it has been well seeded, so why isn’t it…

    Lou Faber