an old writer and his words

  • ADOPTION FOR DUMMIES

    There is one thing that none of the books on discovering who you are when you are adopted bother to tell you. If they did, it wouldn’t change anything, but it is a burden you assumed you’d easily bear that grows heavy with time. What they don’t warn you is that you will discover yourself,…

    Lou Faber

  • SELF?

    There is one thing that none of the books on discovering who you are when you are adopted bother to tell you. If the did, it wouldn’t change anything, but it is a burden you assumed you’d easily bear that grows heavy with time. What they don’t warn you is that you will discover yourself,…

    Lou Faber

  • SEKISO’S NOTHING IS CONCEALED 正法眼蔵 語十八

    When you look in the mirror are you real, is your reflection real? Be careful what you say, for if I look into that mirror and see you, is the you I see anything other than real? When you go through the gate you say “I am exiting”. When I follow you through the gate…

    Lou Faber

  • UMMON’s KONSHIKETSU 無門關 二十一

    Ummon might say a pile of cow dung in the road – this may be the Buddha. Will you step in or walk around? A reflection on case 21 of the Mumonkan (Gateless Gate)

    Lou Faber

  • RINZAI’S TITLELESS MAN 鐵笛倒吹 語十七

    If you come upon both beggar and nobleman see neither wealth or poverty, smell neither the fine rosewater or the crying need of a bath, hear neither the ravings of one or the philosophy of the other, taste neither the fine curry of the moldy bread crust, feel neither the tattered rag or the purest…

    Lou Faber

  • BODHIDHARMA’S “VAST AND VOID”

    You want holy teachings boiled down, synthesized digestible in bites so dine on the holes nothing, emptiness is sustenance enough look at me, at a window as you do a mirror no knowing, a familiar face but whose? the face will depart yours or his you will awaken to endless absence learn no thingness overflowing…

    Lou Faber

  • Think Neither Good Nor Evil 無門關 二十三

    A robe is infinitely heavy, the mountain weighs less than a feather you can move neither but the you before you carries both like a breath. A reflection on Case 23 of the Mumonkan (the Gateless Gate Koans)

    Lou Faber

  • WHO?

    I was looking for you, he said, and I was looking for myself she replied, and here we are and neither of us has succeeded in our quest, for I have not found myself, so you cannot find me. I shall stop looking for you, he said and perhaps you will appear. for I am…

    Lou Faber

  • NO MIND IS THE WAY

    If you think about it, it will suddenly disappear, if you do not think about it, it will reappear, but do not try and understand for understanding can only come from the final surrender of understanding. It is the back of your head in a mirrorless world which others see but you can not. A…

    Lou Faber

  • NO MIND, NO BUDDHA

    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 as it would be better to burn the yoke. A reflection on case 33 of the Mumonkan (The Gateless Gate)

    Lou Faber