an old writer and his words

  • RINZAI’S BLIND DONKEY

    When your teacherhands you the dharmawhat do you find in your hands? What will you dowith the dharma you are given,where will you keep it,or will you give it awayin silence, and in suchgiving have it with youat all times and places. A reflection on Case 13 of the Book of Equanimity (従容錄, Shōyōroku)

    Lou Faber

  • JIZO PLANTS THE FIELD

    As you searchthrough the Dharmawhat is it you hope to find? When you ask your teacherto explain the Dharma, whatdo you expect him to tell you? Do you cling to Dharmabecause it is there, unchanging,a guide to the end of your search? Better to live the preceptsfully, present in every moment,waking, working, eatingand even sleeping…

    Lou Faber

  • JOSHU SEES THROUGH THE OLD WOMAN

    When, on the path,you com across a problemyou cannot solveyou may turnto your teacherand ask forthe solution. Do not expectan answerfor your teacherhas none, butif you listen carefullyto his silent breathin and out,he will lead youto the answer. A reflection on Casew 10 of the Book of Equanimity (SHôYôROKU 従容錄)

    Lou Faber

  • YAKUSAN TAKES THE HIGH SEAT

    When you sit at the footof the teacher, whatdo you expect to hear? You dare not ask him questionsfor you know hewill give you no answers. If he sits silentlysmile for he hasgiven youthe wholeof the Dharma. A reflection on case 7 of the Book of Equanimity

    Lou Faber

  • The World-Honored One’s Intimate Speech 正法眼蔵 三十四

    The wise one deliversmost knowledgewithout opening his mouth.The sagacious studentdoes not hide the wisdomhe inherits but offers itin utter silence.What is ityou wished to sayfor I am readynot to listen. A reflection on Dogen’s Shobogenzo Koans Case 34 (True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber

  • TOKUSANS’S THIRTY BLOWS 正法眼蔵 三十一

    If I come before the teacherhe will give me thirty blows.If I do not come before the teacherhe will give me thirty blows.It is the same for everyone,his arms never grow tiredbut if I never see my teacher,I give him thirty blowsand my arms are suddenly heavy. A reflection on Case 31 of Dogen’s Shobogenzo…

    Lou Faber

  • TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT

    I am there, a classroom,elementary or middle school,Charleston, West Virginia1930’s, girls in proper skirts,saddle shoes, the old womanat the front of the room,first day of a new year. “Jones”, a hand goes up,“Murphy”, another rises slowly,“Padlibsky, what kindof name is that, Jew, orsome kind or Ruskie maybe?”A small voice answersLithuanian, ma’am. A scene that neverhappened,…

    Lou Faber

  • HEY TEACH

    She is long departed I imagine,and she would have had nomemory of me given the numberwho passed through her roomin the decades she stood impartingthe sort of knowledge that wassomehow tucked away, notforgotten, for it bubbled forthyears later, the aha moment. I could not forget her, whyperhaps she was a key to my passwords, the firstquestion…

    Lou Faber

  • WHEN WE STOPPED

    It was probably that momentjust after we sat downat our new, huge or sothey seemed, desksand the large personin the front of the roomsmiled at us and said“I will teach you allthat you need to learnthis year so pay attention.” Perhaps we stoppedthinking the year beforeduring kindergarten,but I do think the firstday of first gradetruly…

    Lou Faber

  • MANDATORY, FOR NOW

    They were not optional in our family,once a week, half an hour, that andat least 20 minutes daily, the youngestgot the choice of times. He quit after a year, his sisterwas three years in and went on anotherand I was eight years staringat the 88 keys, so many of whichwould never get used, uselessas were…

    Lou Faber