an old writer and his words

  • THE BARBARIAN HAS NO BEARD 胡子無髭

    NOTE: TODAY’S POST FOLLOWS BELOW: Dear poetry-lovers,           Thank you from the bottom of my heart for following my blog. Some of you have been daily readers since it began 9 years ago, some are more sporadic or more recent followers.  Thank you one and all. As you can imagine, it takes a fair amount…

    Lou Faber

  • GUTEI’S ONE FINGER 倶胝堅指

    NOTE: TODAY’S POST FOLLOWS BELOW: Dear poetry-lovers,           Thank you from the bottom of my heart for following my blog. Some of you have been daily readers since it began 9 years ago, some are more sporadic or more recent followers.  Thank you one and all. As you can imagine, it takes a fair amount…

    Lou Faber

  • BUDDHA HOLDS OUT A FLOWER 無門關 六

    Shakyamuniholds up a fadinglotus flowerand we sit silently awaiting, not knowingpatient, afraid to smileto move, to shift posturemudra one smiles,dharma is transmitted,the kenshoof yellowed teeth. A reflection on Case 5 of the Mumonkan 無門関 (The Gateless Gate Koans)

    Lou Faber

  • MAN UP A TREE 無門關 語

    One armed monkclings precariouslyto the sagging limbover the abyss. Kyogen smiles, “Old manyou are starvingand soonwill be too weakto grasp that branch.” He places an appleon the branchfor the old man. “Your sufferingis completed.” A reflection on Case 5 of the Mumonkan 無門関 (The Gateless Gate Koans)

    Lou Faber

  • THE BEARDLESS BARBARIAN 無門關 四

    A young childhas no beard. In one dreamyou are beardedand awake clean shaven. In one dreamyou are clean shavenand awake rubbing your long beard. When you meet your dreamsand when your dreams meet,which is real, Wakuan asks. A reflection on Case 4 of the Mumonkan 無門関 (The Gateless Gate Koans)

    Lou Faber

  • GUTEI RAISES A FINGER 無門關 三

    One finger,a moment Guteione finger, that wayone finger, unity what have you learnedone finger,cut off,a moment in all directions no direction but stilla unity. A reflection on Case 3 of the Mumonkan 無門関 (The Gateless Gate Koans)

    Lou Faber

  • HYAKUJO’S FOX 無門關 二

    The old, crippled foxcrawled slowly from the mouthof the dark cave. Sidling up to Hayakujothe old monk said to fox,“think fox, useno mind to thinkno thing. Fox paused in reflection.Cremated bones, fleshand fur were lovingly buriedin a monk’s funeral. A reflection on Case 2 of the Mumonkan 無門関 (The Gateless Gate Koans)

    Lou Faber

  • Atop the Pole 無門關 四十六

    Sitting atop a hundred foot poleyou are convinced there areonly two directions: pole and down.Old Osho asks, how will you proceedand you stare back at this lunatic.How will you proceed, he repeats? You release the polestep slowly away, lookingat ten directions before you,you move your feet, each onetouches the path of eachof the three worlds…

    Lou Faber

  • Bodhidharma’s Mind 無門關 四十一

    Walk slowly up to Bodhidharmabut do not pull him awayfrom the wall before which he sits.Keep your arms close about youlest you cannot graspwhat he will ask. Hold tight to your mndfor it will grow still onlyas it slips through your fingersWhen you see it fade awaySamadhi bathes you. A reflection on Case 41 of…

    Lou Faber

  • NO MIND, NO BUDDHA 無門關 三十三

    Baso knows well only the ox truly understands the yoke but if you offer it the ox will not accept. Why would you seek to become the ox? It would be better to burn the yoke. A reflection on Case 33 of The Mumonkan (The Gateless Gate)

    Lou Faber