Norman speaks on the Koan Mi Hu's "Enlightenment or Not" Case 62 in the "Book of Serenity" Thomas Cleary edition.

Francisco Cinencio gives the second "Evening Talk" at the Mar De Jade 2010 Sesshin.

This is an introduction to Koan Study. Zoketsu discusses the history of Koans and their relationship to Zen practice in the Rinzai and Soto schools of Zen. He recommends Dogen’s Genjo Koan as a guide in making this very life our central koan.

Norman gives the fourth and final talk to the Insight Yoga Institute reading his new poems.

First in a Study of the Five Skandas - Form, Feeling, Perception, Volition, Consciousness -using Chogyam Trungpa's book "Glimpses of Abhidharma"

Second in a Study of the Five Skandas - Form, Feeling, Perception, Volition, Consciousness -using Chogyam Trungpa's book "Glimpses of Abhidharma"

Third in a Study of the Five Skandas - Form, Feeling, Perception, Volition, Consciousness -using Chogyam Trungpa's book "Glimpses of Abhidharma"

Norman gives the second talk of the 2012 Tassajara Zen Mind Training Workshop on Absolute and Relative Compassion, the first slogans for absolute compassion training. Norman gives a guided meditation at the end of the talk.

Zoketsu Norman Fischer talks about a Zen approach to dealing with the suffering brought about by afflicted emotions. From sesshin given at Mar de Jade.

A beautiful essay by Susan Moon about vision and her father's blindness.

A very important sutra that includes material on perception and consciousness. The complete version of the sutra offered here as a text file was downloaded from the Buddhist Text Society. It is also available at the Gold Buddha Monastery website.

"This is a difficult piece I wrote for "enough" a poetry journal published especially in protest of the bombing of Afghanistan. While its point is difficult, and maybe too extreme, I think it is an interesting piece and says some things that are important to me."

Do sectarian differences between schools of Zen really mean any thing? Zoketsu suggests we re-consider the roots of our Zen Buddhist tradition.

Sometimes when I get far afield with my practice, as I can too easily do, I have to bring myself back. I am doing a million things – there is poetry, my family, household chores; I am reading the bible, or science- it is all very interesting. But then I have to stop myself and ask, what am I doing? Where is my anchor, my home? What’s my basic commitment?

"When your life is ending how will you be free?" Zoketsu discusses practice in the light of our living and dying.

Zoketsu introduces the emptiness teachings of the Vajracheddika Prajna Paramita Sutra, also known as the Diamond Sutra.

Zoketsu continues an exploration of the essential emptiness of phenomena, as taught in the Diamond Sutra, with a discussion of the practice of renunciation.

Drawing on Zhaozhou's reminder to wash our bowls, Zoketsu explores the Zen approach to the material world.

Stephen Batchelor's edition of "A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life" was the main text for Norman's ten talks on Shantideva. See Study Guide: Compassion.

Taking Our Places: the Buddhist Path to Truly Growing Up, is a book about spiritual practice as a journey toward true human maturity based on mentoring work Norman did with a group of four boys on the cusp of adulthood. Taking Our Places discusses the practices and the values that can deepen our lives as we grow. It includes chapters on meditation, listening, suffering, and ethical conduct.

This classic first collection of Suzuki Roshi's lectures, published in the 1970's, is a wonderful introduction to Zen teachings, from basic posture in meditation to emptiness and enlightenment.

This is the second collection of Suzuki Roshi's lectures, and a companion volume to "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind." Suzuki talks about Zen in everyday language, with clarity and insight.

Robert Aiken Roshi's clear, insightful discussion of the complexities of Zen ethics, as they relate to personal and social action.

Another recommended version of the Shantideva text.

Another recommended Shantideva text, by the Dalai Lama and the Padmakara Translation Group

"'Being Upright'...takes us beyond the conventional interpretation of ethical precepts to the ultimate meaning that informs them."

Suzuki Roshi talks about this important Soto Zen text whose theme is the interpenetration of oneness and diversity, a cornerstone of Suzuki Roshi’s understanding.