Norman Fischer

A week at the Gethsemani Abbey left Zen priest and poet Norman Fischer inspired by the soaring beauty of the Psalms chanted each day, but shocked by their violence, passion, and bitterness. Thus he began a journey through Eastern and Western spirituality and his own Jewish roots toward these moving and intimate translations, designed to "make these towering and perplexing poems accessible and beautiful in English for contemporary readers" of every spiritual path or religious background. These ninety-three poems of praise, celebration, suffering, and lamentation are exquisitely rendered in modern and intimate language. In the tradition of Stephen Mitchell's Tao Te Ching and Coleman Barks's Essential Rumi, Opening to You brings the Psalms alive-and creates an inspirational bridge between different religious and cultural roots.… (más)

Three Buddhist teachers reflect on the nature of suffering and the human condition. Buddhism mainly concerns itself with suffering, so you'd think all Buddhist wisdom would be wisdom for difficult times, and that's true. However, there's suffering, and then there's suffering. I liked that Norman Fischer talked about the difference between his regular meditation practice helping him to understand the nature of change, and the sudden experience of grief when his good friend passed away deepening his understanding. In a way, daily meditation practice is just that - practice for the Olympic marathons of suffering that drop into our lives.… (más)