an old writer and his words

  • KYOGEN’S “MAN UP IN A TREE” 五 香嚴上樹

    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

  • JOSHU’S DOG 趙州狗子

    NOTE: My new book is here at last. It has been 16 years in the making, nine of which I have spent producing this blog. Since you have been following and reading my work which I appreciate, if you would like a copy Free of the Shadow for $10 (shipping included) rather than its list…

    Lou Faber

  • TIANHUANG’S “ESSENTIAL DHARMA GATE”

    When you askyour teacherfor directionsalong the pathhe will havenothing to say.When you realizethat in beingwith him, inthe silence, hehas given youthe greatest gift. A reflection on case 106 of Dogen’s True Dharma Eye koans (正法眼蔵)

    Lou Faber

  • BAIZHANG AND THE FOX

    You may ask a teacherif a truly enlightened oneis subject to cause and effect.If the teacher says nohe is a fox leading you astraybut if he says yes, he isa bear deep in hibernation.The wise teacher willremain silent knowingthat cause and effectexist simultaneouslyand his silence isa lesson you need to learn. A reflection on Case…

    Lou Faber

  • DONGSHAN’S ILLNESS

    If you tell your teacherthat you are feeling painduring your practicehe will ask you wherethe pain is.If you point to a partof your body he willturn away but if youpoint to your headhe will tell you thatyou can heal yourself. A reflection on Case 98 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans (True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber

  • DRY FEET

    My Buddhist teachers saythat you cannot stepinto the same river twice.I am not one for steppinginto rivers at all, havingas a child done so andslipping on a smooth rockfalling and bruising my thigh.It was more of a creekand I should have seenthe slime on the rockbut a child is more interestedin what lies ahead and…

    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

  • BUDDHA’S TEACHING OF A LIFETIME

    If you ask a teacherto teach you Zenin a single lessonwhat do you expecthim to say to you?If he sits on the cushionsaying nothingin deep zazenyou have the answer. A reflection on Case 94 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans (True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber

  • TEACHING AND NOT TEACHING

    What is it you expectto have your teacheroffer you?There is no Zento teach sodo not ask, fornothing cannotbe given butonly experienced. A reflection on Case 92 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans 正法眼蔵 (True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber

  • JIASHAN SEES THE FERRYMAN

    When you sitwith your teacherand ask him to give youthe heart of the dharmawhat do you expectto receive?A wise studentdoes not ask to receivethat which cannotbe given, but canonly be shared. A reflection on Case 90 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans 正法眼蔵 (True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber