an old writer and his words

  • JUST A THOUGHT

    In a world that continues to spinwildly out of control, always threateningso shift off its axis to unknown ends,the faithful go merrily about their waywhile those who believe but doubtquestion why God does not simplydo away with evil, for that must surelyfall within His omnipotence, evilbanished by a Holy thought or two.What God would tell…

    Lou Faber

  • GOOD?

    She used to ask me if I had a good day.It was a loaded question for there wasno good answer in her view, it was reallyjust rhetorical, something you saidto avoid talking about your ownfeelings and emotions at any given moment.She expected me to complain about allthat did not go as planned, whereuponshe could roll…

    Lou Faber

  • PUHUA KNOCKS OVER A TABLE

    While you are on the cushionif your teacher stoopsto ask you how is your sittingdo you say it is goodor it is not good?The teacher will smirkat either answer forthere are no good sittingsor bad sittings,there is only sitting. A reflection on Case 96 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans (True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber

  • RAKUHO’S LAST MOMENTS

    If you sit before the teacherand he asks you “how isyour practice, good or not”how do you answer?If you say your practiceis good, your teacherwill call you a liar.If you say your practiceis not good, your teacherwill tell you to practice. A reflection on Case 41 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • SO TO SPEAK

    One of the obvious problemswith growing older is the tendencyto begin using phrases you always detestedwhen young: “back in the day,” and it’sequivalents maddened you in your youthand are now a common element of your vernacular. Worse still is the knowledge that the dayswhich you seem to lovingly recallweren’t all that good as you lived…

    Lou Faber

  • ON THE HORIZON

    In crossing the event horizondualities collapse and crumble.God and Satan are again mergedinto a unity, pressed into diamondits glint that of a thousand suns. We follow as we must, for nowthere is neither good nor evil,there merely is, and we have foundthe path we have been seekingon the road to our sigularity.

    Lou Faber

  • NANSEN CUTS A CAT

    You are a searcher, youlook for answers, you lookfor the right paththat will lead youto enlightenment. You see everythingas black or white, goodor bad, right or wrong.You are a masterat division. Stop searching, stopseeking answers, stopdividing, then sitwith Nansen’s cat.That will be enough. A reflection on case 8 of the Book of Equanimity

    Lou Faber

  • ELEMENTARY

    Each morning we stoodas the Principal intonedthe Pledge of Allegianceover the tinny PA system.One morning as we rose,hands over hearts,we noticed someonehad put up the Canadian flagin the holder over the door.The Principal threatenedto call all of our parentsunless the guilty partycame forward, and westruggled vainlyto swallow our giggles.No one came forwardand they foundthe Stars…

    Lou Faber

  • IN A CORNER

    First of all, Jack, you were sent to the corner for a reason. That pie was for everyone, not just you, we have told you endlessly about how wrong selfishness is. You won’t listen. And how many times do we have to tell you to use a fork or a spoon. Not only did you…

    Lou Faber

  • DEFLATED DREAMS

    when did youthful dreamsslip awayerodeget consumed byparentsteachersor simply abandoned reality, yourstheirs a poor substituteall edgesand pointspiercing hope love once (a) givenrendered faint hopeworse, impossible dreamdelusion? you wantto think notwant so muchcan’t havebad for youwe know goodwhen we give itnone for you timepast sogrow up

    Lou Faber