Zen teacher Norman Fischer discovers the life-changing — and society-changing — power of really knowing other people’s pain. The most profound awakening I have ever experienced happened when I was abbot at Green Gulch Zen Center. In those days it was my daily practice to sit in my room conducting interviews in the early morning hours, while the community did zazen and [...]
What Is Your Body?
It’s less than we think. It’s far more than we know. It’s who we are but it’s not. Contemplate the deeper reality of the body with Buddhist teacher Norman Fischer. We think about our bodies all the time. How do they look? What is their state of health? Are they aging? Are they sufficiently strong, attractive, impressive? These questions churn out an almost [...]
Life is Tough. Here Are Six Ways to Deal With It
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 [...]
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 [...]
What Is Suffering? 10 Buddhist Teachers Weigh In
The Pali word dukkha is most commonly translated to English as "suffering." Dukkha presents in an array of emotions — from happiness to despair. While counterintuitive, it is a central concept in the Buddha's teachings. In these passages, adapted from longer teachings on Lion's Roar, 10 teachers explain what suffering is, how we feel it, and why it isn't a condemnation — it's a [...]
A New Look at the Heart Sutra, from Thich Nhat Hanh and Norman Fischer
Zen teacher Norman Fischer looks at the famed Heart Sutra and explains why compassion and emptiness go hand in hand. Plus, Thich Nhat Hanh offers his new translation of the Heart Sutra, which teaches the transcendent wisdom that frees us from fear, wrong perceptions, and suffering. The key term in Buddhism’s Heart Sutra is the Sanskrit word shunyata, usually translated [...]
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 [...]
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 innocents, [...]
