an old writer and his words

  • MISHI’S WHITE RABBIT

    If you seea poor mancross your pathhow will youdescribe your meeting.If you saya poor mancrossed your pathyou are wrong forperhaps it is youwho crossed his path. A reflection on case 56 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • SEPPO THE RICE COOK

    If you sitbefore your teacherand she says nothingwhat do you do?Do you speak, doyou ask her a questionor do you sitsilently until dismissedknowing silenceis the firstand last wordof this lesson. A reflection on case 55 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • NO MOMENT

    You wanted a zen moment,more than one actually,but were not surewhere to look. You wandered aboutlooking forthe right pathsaidyou never found it. There isno zen moment,there isno right path there isthis paththis momentonly.

    Lou Faber

  • NONATTACHMENT

    There was the collectivist period,those years when I wanteda copy of every book on BuddhismI could locate, a full and nearlycomplete library, sutras andphilosophical discourses included. There was the moment when Irealized the absurdity of all that,the attachment to textsto enable me to find the abilityto practice non-attachment,and I gave the books away,and finally set…

    Lou Faber

  • LEAD ME NOT

    Strange as it may seem,I was tempted to considerCatholicism, not the Roman kindbut that of the breakawy churcheswho accept all, gay or straight,married or divorced, the wholelot of mankind just because. They do believe in heavenwhich is a good alternativeto the Bardo, and having choicesis a good thing even in death. I was truly tempted…

    Lou Faber

  • RINZAI’S REAL EYE 鐵笛倒吹 九十語

    You say there area thousand waysof seeing this momentbut which is the real way?I respond there area thousand waysof seeing this momentbut which is the real way? You may take my place,you may lookthrough my eyes,but you will stillbe blindto this momentor that. A reflection on Case 95 of the Iron Flute Koans

    Lou Faber

  • ZENGETSU SNAPS HIS FINGERS 鐵笛倒吹 八十七

    When two students meetalong the road, eachacknowledges the otherwith the snap of fingers.When a student walks the Wayto who does he snap his fingersand who passes with a small bow? If you happen across a teacherand ask him the meaning of thiswill you bow or snapand how will you respondto the silencethat enfolds his answer.…

    Lou Faber

  • SOTO

    If you are able to speakmaintain silence,If you can bear the silence,listen to the song the sea sings.If you can sing with the seacount the grains of sandthat wash in on the next wave.If you lose count, begin againbefore the wave recedes.If the wave recedes beforeyou finish counting, bid it farewell.After you bid farewellreturn to…

    Lou Faber

  • GENTO’S AXE 鐵笛倒吹 八十二

    You sit before himan axe in his hand.He asks a question and saysif you answer I will cut offyour right hand,if you do not respondI will sever your left. There is no soundfrom the clock in the corneras you silently grab his axeand he smilesin deeply shared knowledge. A reflection on Case 82 of the…

    Lou Faber

  • Seizei’s Poverty 無門關 十

    Sozan shoutedto no onein particular“You may yet havethe finest wine, butonly when youhave nothing willyou taste iton your tongue. A reflection on Case 10 of the Mumonkan (The Gateless Gate Koans)

    Lou Faber