an old writer and his words

  • YAOSHAN’S “THIS BUDDHA, THAT BUDDHA”

    When you approachthe altar in the zendoto which of the two Buddhasdo you offer a bow?If you say this oneyou are wrong, butif you say that oneyou are wrong.There is only Buddha andthere are infinite Buddhas. A reflection on case 86 of Shinji Shobogenzo 真字正法眼蔵 (True Dharma Eye)

    Lou Faber

  • JOSHU’S DOG

    My teacher once asked me“what do you haveto say for yourself,” and Ianswered “absolutely nothing,”or did I smile and remain silent? You assume the teacher wouldbe upset with the silent studentand in most cases you wouldbe perfectly correct. But if this occurredin a zendo, having nothingto say is a step toward no-selfand you can bein…

    Lou Faber

  • LOOKING FOR WORDS

    They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Perhaps so, but many pictures don’t travel in verbose company, and there are pictures worth far, far less, although some will search until the magic thousand are found. In Japan a story can be told in seventeen syllables, a picture painted with a single brushstroke. In…

    Lou Faber

  • Bodhidharma’s Mind 無門關 四十一

    Walk slowly up to Bodhidharmabut do not pull him awayfrom the wall before which he sits.Keep your arms close about youlest you cannot graspwhat he will ask. Hold tight to your mndfor it will grow still onlyas it slips through your fingersWhen you see it fade awaySamadhi bathes you. A reflection on Case 41 of…

    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

  • FOUR HAIKU

    In this momentabsolutely nothingsamadhiBuddha, outside the zendoa hundred birds gatherchanting the Dharma the cat sitsat the foot of Buddhaenlightened a girl gigglesBuddha laughs aloudpigeons bow

    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

  • TE SHAN CARRYING HIS BUNDLE

    Enter the room slowly and look carefully,since you are here to find something.There is much within this room, but youcan see nothing save the old man,sitting calmly, staring at nothing, staringthrough you at nothing in particular.You know he is the teacher, the onefor whom you have been searching,Still, he ignores you, staring at nothing.You walk…

    Lou Faber

  • ABOVE IT ALL

    The cat likes nothing betterthan to sit atop the kitchen cabinetswithin easy reach of the ceiling. We thought at first it wasa place of safety, less to fearin a new home, new people. We know better now, for shegoes to high places, cabinetsbookcases, when the meditation bell rings., She’ll climb down afterthe ending bell rings,…

    Lou Faber

  • WOODEN PILLOW 鐵笛倒吹 六十

    If, sitting at your mealyou hear the song of a bird,what do you do?You may tap your chopstick rest,and perhaps he will answerand repeat his sweet song.If you tap a second timeand there is only silenceis the bird rejecting youor offering his song to another,flown from your window. Perhaps you should tap againand hear the…

    Lou Faber