an old writer and his words

  • ISAN’S SUMMONS 鐵笛倒吹 三十一

    When the mastercalls for a novicedo you answer?When the inkinbell is struckdo you beginor end zazen?As you follow your breathwhen do you leaveyour body, and whoreturns when you next inhale? Search insteadfor an answerthat has no question.Who is the novice now? A reflection on case 31 of the Iron Flute Koans

    Lou Faber

  • ISAN’S I HAVE EXHAUSTED MYSELF 正法眼蔵 四十四

    Approach the master sitting on his seat. The fool will seek answers having slept through the lesson but the wise student will bow silently and retreat having learned all there is and knowing absolutely nothing. A reflection on case 44 of Dogen’s True Dharma Eye Koans

    Lou Faber

  • ISAN’S I HAVE EXHAUSTED MYSELF 正法眼蔵 四十四

    Approach the master sitting on his seat. The fool will seek answers having slept through the lesson but the wise student will bow silently and retreat having learned all there is and knowing absolutely nothing. A reflection on Case 44 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo (The True Dharma Mind)

    Lou Faber

  • JOSHU ANSWERS

    Yesterday a small dog, walking its master down the block stopped and stared at you, as you stood on your porch. You stared back at the dog, eyes locked on each other, while the master fidgeted on the sidewalk, afraid or too bored to look at either of you. You realized this was just the…

    Lou Faber

  • SANSHU’S BLINDNESS 正法眼蔵 四十

    If you come forward and ask no question the master will give you an answer, but if you approach with a question, the master will strike you with the stick. It is only when your eyes are blinded that you can take up the master’s staff and all is clearly seen.

    Lou Faber

  • A WINTER MEDITATION

    I have given up on winter, which is to say that I have fled its iron grip, but the memories I have linger painfully in the rods the surgeon carefully screwed onto my spine. It wasn’t the cold, though it was far from pleasant, but the snow that demanded but also defied being shoveled. I…

    Lou Faber

  • ROSO FACES THE WALL

    Come before the Master. If he turns from you and faces the wall he honors you. If the Master enters your room and you turn to the wall you will deserve his stick. As you cannot sit in the Master’s seat he may not sit in yours, but all seats are one seat, no wall…

    Lou Faber

  • A LEG UP

    We agree we must learn the rules, to master the game, practice until the moves are second nature. We have three weeks to do all of this, then Place the game box back on the shelf to be discovered and taken down, opened spread out on the table, impatience controlling. Want to ensure that one…

    Lou Faber

  • STARING

    A crane stands placidly staring through the window as we earnestly attempt to imitate him, hoping he will honor the effort if not the result. The master is graceful and we are far less so, and out of the corner of my eye I see on the crane what could be a smile, or as…

    Lou Faber

  • HARYO’S SECRET TRANSMISSION

    When you are puzzled by the words of old masters you may seek answers from your teachers. Will this one or that one know? The answer cannot come from the tongue of your teacher, a shelved book cannot speak words have no magic. But all is not lost for the question always contains its answer…

    Lou Faber