Non Dual Lineage of Zen

Talk of Suffering of Women and Buddhism

Talk on Buddhism and Politics

Preferences 4

Preferences 3

Preferences 2

Preferences

Zoketsu comments on "Tao Wu's Condolence Call" from The Blue Cliff Record. Yuan hits a coffin and says, "Alive or dead?" Tao Wu said, "I won't say alive and I won't say dead." Zoketsu discusses how birth/death are not opposites.

How can we be there for others who are dying, when we are in denial and cannot explain death with words or phrases? Zoketsu discusses how birth/death can be experienced as nirvana and not as polar opposites.

Norman gives the third talk to the Insight Yoga Institute on a reading of Dogen's "Genjokoan".

Norman gives the Dharma talk at Green Gulch Zen Center on Forgiveness. This is part of the 2011 Everyday Zen practice period and there is a supplement to this talk at the Practice Period meeting the same day entitled "Practice Period Meeting 2011".

Norman gives the fifth talk on "Offering and Allowing" to the Santa Sabina Sesshin 2011.

Norman gives the second talk on Dogen's Mountain and Waters Sutra as found in Kazuaki Tanahashi's "Moon in a DewDrop" and "Treasury of the True Dharma Eye - Zen Master Dogen's Shobo Genzo" Chapter 23 Volume 1.

Norman gives a guided meditation "Letting Go and Generosity" to the SCIPI group.

Most people come to Zen practice not quite knowing what to expect. Popular images of tough Zen masters, rigorous retreats, and hardwon enlightenment experiences may obscure the fact that, when you come down to it, Zen is as much about relationship and interaction as anything else.

Norman Fischer explains why it’s suffering that gives us the incentive, vision, and strength to transform our lives. This article is available in PDF format, for download.

Norman gives the first talk on Dogen's Mountain and Waters Sutra as found in Kazuaki Tanahashi's "Moon In a Dewdrop" and "Treasury of the True Dharma Eye - Zen Master Dogen's Shobo Genzo" Chapter 23 Volume 1.

a tale of intrigue, thievery, masked bandits, and the help of all beings, human and non-human...

A much lauded commentary on Shantideva's text, published by the Padmakara translations group. In this commentary, Kunzang Pelden has compiled the pith instructions of his teacher Patrul Rinpoche, the celebrated author of "The Words of My Perfect Teacher."

Biographies and stories of Zen women in China, Korea, and Japan, with commentary by Grace Schireson. An important collection of our current knowledge of historical Zen women.

Norman's eagerly awaited book about Homer's Odyssey and the metaphor of homecoming, from a Zen perspective. "Norman Fischer deftly incorporates Buddhist, Judaic, Christian, and popular thought, as well as his own unique and sympathetic understanding of life, in his reinterpretation of Odysseus's familiar wanderings as lessons that everyone can use. We see how to resist the seduction of the Sirens' song to stop sailing and give up; how to bide our time in a situation and wait for the right opportunity -- as Odysseus does when faced with the murderous, one-eyed Cyclops; and how to reassess our story and rediscover our purpose and identity if, like the Lotus-Eaters, we have forgotten the past."

This collection of scholarly essays discusses Zen ritual throughout history from a variety of standpoints. Not necessary to read to appreciate the audio files.

Chodron's excellent personal and in-depth commentary on Shantideva's eighth-century text.

More Dogen, but with an emphasis on meditation practice as theme. Lengthy introduction by Zoketsu.

Based on what historical evidence is known about female awakened practitioners since the time of the Buddha, Sallie Tisdale “re-imagines” their lives in the context of the historical eras they lived within. Some people object to the re-imagining, but I found it powerful and engaging. Her introduction is particularly worth reading.

The best among the many English translations of this inspiring poetic text.

Secondary text for the philosophically/academically minded: A sequel to "Eihei Dogen: Mystical Realist". Equally strong.