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.

Bodhidharma meets Emporer Wu in this famous case. Can we meet ourselves with the same integrity?

Norman speaks on the koan on The Insentient at the Headlands Institute. This is the same talk given the first day of the Loon Lake Sesshin 2010 - November 7 which was not recorded at that time due to a recording error.

This is a substitution talk given at the Headlands Institute of the first talk given at the Loon Lake Sesshin 2010 on The Insentient koan.

Norman gives the second talk to the Loon Lake 2010 Sesshin on a second koan regarding The Insentient.

What does old man Zhaozhou have to say about the way we approach our everyday lives? How can we learn to listen to the music of our lives?

Summary in English of the Forgiveness Study Group held with the Puerto Vallarta Zen Group.

In this essay for Shambhala Sun magazine, Norman writes about the pain and bewilderment of losing his closest friend, and offers concrete advice and ways to work with loss. The title, "The Raw Spot," refers to the teaching by Chogyam Trungpa on embryonic compassion, which grows from the sore or raw or wounded spot in our bodies and hearts.

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.

Whether we like it or not, our political life is now so dominated by religious perspectives that we must all participate in defining what true religious values are, lest we allow others to do it for us.

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.