An ancient set of Buddhist slogans offers us six powerful techniques to transform life’s difficulties into awakening and benefit. Zen teacher Norman Fischer guides us through them. Illustrations by Keith Abbott. There’s an old Zen saying: the whole world’s upside down. In other words, the way the world looks from the ordinary or conventional point of view is pretty much the [...]
Topsy-Turvy World
The strength of mind that comes from meditation, says Norman Fischer, can help us end the denial that keeps a world of problems spinning. There’s an old Zen saying: “The world is topsy-turvy.” In other words, it’s an upside-down, crazy world. This may seem like an extreme statement, but only for a minute. If craziness means that we keep doing dysfunctional and destructive [...]
Making Friends on the Buddhist Path
Because we are fundamentally alone when we meditate, it’s easy to think of Buddhism as a solitary path. That’s a mistake, says Zen teacher Norman Fischer. He extols the beauty and benefit of spiritual friendship. Once the Buddha’s disciple Ananda asked him about friendship. Ananda knew that having good and encouraging friends was very important for the path. He even [...]
Four Reflections That Strengthen Your Intention to Practice
Norman Fischer on four contemplations that will turn your mind toward positive thought and strengthen your intention to practice. Read Fischer's full teaching on the practice of intention. Every time we sit in meditation, every time we turn the mind toward positive thought and action to benefit others, we are strengthening our intention, our commitment, and our vow to [...]
Intention Is the Practice
On the Buddhist path, says Zen teacher Norman Fischer, our intention deepens into commitment and then into vow. At that point, our intentions and our life become one. When you practice meditation, you are assured of success. But by “success” I don’t mean that things will go as you hope they will. When you meditate, you soon forget about whether things go as you hope they [...]
The Problem of Evil
There may be no good or evil in absolute reality, but in the relative world there certainly is. When people do such terrible things, can we really believe in human goodness? Zoketsu Norman Fischer tackles the problem of evil. Beheadings. Drone attacks. Suicide bombers. Mass shootings in malls, movie theaters, and office buildings. Religious fanatics slaughtering [...]
Suffering Opens The Real Path
Norman Fischer explains why it’s suffering that gives us the incentive, vision, and strength to transform our lives. On January 12, 2009, my dear friend of forty years, my best friend who was more than a brother to me, Rabbi Alan Lew, died without any warning or any known illness. I won’t go on about our long friendship; there’s too much to say. Suffice it to say, we [...]
Nothing Holy: A Zen Primer
Nervous about going on your first -- or next -- Zen retreat? Don't know your Soto from your Rinzai? Norman Fischer has you covered. Here he takes us through the principles and practices of the major schools of Zen. 1. A Zen Wave Like ocean waters, intellectual currents are always in motion. They churn up organic matter from below, creating and extending powerful nutritional [...]
No Teacher of Zen
From the beginning, Norman Fischer never had much use for Zen teachers—and he still doesn’t. But after years of being one himself, he has a fuller appreciation of the role a teacher plays. One of my favorite Zen stories is about teachers. The great Zen teacher Huangbo strides into the hall and says to the assembled monastics, “You people are all dreg-slurpers! If you go on [...]
Sometimes Full, Sometimes Half Full
All of our actions, however small, can have wondrous effects, says Norman Fischer, but only if we are wholehearted enough in our practice of ethical conduct. Includes a review of the sixteen bodhisattva precepts. In classical Buddhism, as in all religious traditions, the spiritual life is seen as all-encompassing, embracing the whole of a person's life. All our conduct, all [...]