an old writer and his words

  • MIRROR IMAGE

    Each morning when I lookinto the mirror I imagineI see me, but of course thatis impossible, for in that momentonly the mirror sees meand I see the mirror. How deluded I must beto assume that I look at alllike the mirror, but it is,I know, just such delusionsthat enable my sense of self,and that is…

    Lou Faber

  • UTEKI ASKS BUDDHA 鐵笛倒吹 四十語

    While out for a walkon a sun filled Spring dayif you happen across the Buddhahow will you recognize him? If you offer gasshoto Buddha surelyit will be returned, butis it he or merelyyour reflection offthe surface of a still pond?Does this matter to you? A reflection on case 45 of the Iron Flute Koans

    Lou Faber

  • REFLECTION

    The thing with mirrors is that they always want to tell the truth where we what is lies, or at least a little fibs, some wrinkles smoothed, hair now a color the mirror is more than capable of reflecting, but mirrors don’t bend to our wishes, and when they do, at carnivals mostly, the result…

    Lou Faber

  • REFLECTIONS

    You believe this is how, and where, it begins, but that is only your conception of it. You believe the mirror shows your face each morning, but it is merely polished glass, and you mind sees what it perceives to be you in the glass, while the glass is empty. It has no real beginning,…

    Lou Faber

  • ACROSS

    Across the river running limpid as mercury the sky is gun-metal gray and many stand in the windows of their small apartments and stare at buildings sitting like mausolea. On this side of the river running limpid as mercury the sky is gun-metal gray and many stand in the windows of their small apartments and…

    Lou Faber

  • REFLECTING

    There was a time, once, when in the mirror I saw a young face, but the smile then is the same as that of the old man who greets me early every morning.

    Lou Faber

  • PEBBLE

    In this moment there is and can be no other. And when it is gone it never existed much as the next will never exist. So it is with us, a reflection of the ripple of the long sunk stone now nestling the bottom of the pond.  

    Lou Faber

  • THREE THOUGHTS (HAIKU)

    The pelican dives beneath an ominous sky – this is no Koi pond. Snowy egret stares, his reflection returns it calm pond undisturbed. Haiku is perfect if you adhere to the form in all four seasons.

    Lou Faber

  • REISHO’S BRIGHT AND CLEAR

    As you stare into the mirror it is your reflection you believe that you clearly see. As the face in the mirror stares at you, it is its face it believes that it sees reflected. There is one face and there are a thousand faces. A reflection on Case 88 of the Shobogenzo

    Lou Faber

  • KINKA’S ANCIENT MIRROR

    A river may rub a stone until it reflects the morning sun. A jeweler may polish it and facet it until it shatters the light in ten directions. A wise man knows it is still the same stone.   A reflection on Shobogenzo Case 117

    Lou Faber