an old writer and his words

  • DISCLOSING IS NOT AS GOOD AS PRACTICE

    You can spend an hourstudying Dharmaor you can spendten minutesin silent zazen,The great Wayis silent andno paper cancontain it, truesilence cannotbe read or studied. A reflection on case 77 of the Shobogenzo, Dogen’s True Dharma Eye 正法眼蔵

    Lou Faber

  • YANTOU’S SIT STILL

    When sitting on the zafuif you try not to thinkyou are thinking.If you sit and breathein the silenceeverything will appearbefore you andin that momentyou will see nothing. A reflection on case 75 of the Shobogenzo, Dogen’s True Dharma Eye 正法眼蔵

    Lou Faber

  • ON THE CUSHION

    The day has slipped away,or mostly so, as they often doas if nature provided a hiddengrease that lets them outof our grasp no matterhow hard we try and hold them.It is little consolation, laterin life, that nights demonstrateand equal unwillingnessto remain very long, as ifour dreams must be hurriedas are our days and nights.Sitting on…

    Lou Faber

  • CIRCLING

    This morning as the bellsignaled the end of morning zazenthe whistling ducks took uptheir song, circling the wetlandas if inviting me to photograph them. They quickly grew bored waitingand flew off to a placeI do not know, can not imagine. Perhaps they will returnthis afternoon, circlein a duck like pose as I capturethem with the…

    Lou Faber

  • THE LANGUAGE OF ZEN

    The greatest problemwith our languagein the practice of zazencan seem insurmountable. We are lovers of tenses,a dozen to choose from,one spawning offspring,time ever important to us. In zen, on the cushionthere is no past, no future,perfect or otherwise, norour friend the conditional. We strive to always bein the moment, there is nowand nothing else, and…

    Lou Faber

  • ZOOM ZEN

    In the middle of a rouund of zazenI hear the bells of a nearby church,although I am nearby no church. Zen teaches you to be presentin each moment, to be immersedin and not witnessing life around you. The bells break my struggleto not think, they introduce timeagain where there should be none. Just as soon,…

    Lou Faber

  • TODAI-JI

    The snow capped mountainstares at the December skyshredding laughing clouds.I sit by the fire dreamingof the slow approach of spring. There is a momentwhen all is only silencethe zendo in stillness.In that moment I can hearthe entirety of Dharma The temple bell tolls,the deer assume their posture,afternoon zazen,I walk around Todai-jiin futile search of Buddha.

    Lou Faber

  • GYOZAN CAN’T SAY IT

    The true artist,when askedto draw a perfect tree will lead you to the gardenand have you situnder the great maple.The true masterasked to speak of Dharmawill silentlyface the wallin zazen. A reflection on case 118 of the Shobogenzo, Dogen’s True Dharma Eye Koans

    Lou Faber

  • GENTO’S THREE WORLDS 鐵笛倒吹 九十六

    If you claimthis world weighsheavily on you,and ask what to doyou will be toldto simply sit.If this is notclear to youyou may say so. When you carryanother worldto this placeyou will understandand be weightless

    Lou Faber

  • SOTO

    If you are able to speakmaintain silence,If you can bear the silence,listen to the song the sea sings.If you can sing with the seacount the grains of sandthat wash in on the next wave.If you lose count, begin againbefore the wave recedes.If the wave recedes beforeyou finish counting, bid it farewell.After you bid farewellreturn to…

    Lou Faber