Norman FischerReseñas

Growing up happens whether we like it or not, but maturity must be cultivated. This book demonstrates why this cultivation is essential for our lives and shows how we can go about achieving maturity. Drawing upon insights from both the Buddhist and Jewish traditions, renowned Zen teacher Norman Fischer provides an engaging and accessible guide for skillfully navigating the ongoing demands of our adult lives.

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.

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.

This book held my attention up to a point. It is well-written in laymen's terms and is a fascinating insight into the workings of Buddhism to someone who doesn't know a lot about it. I did find, however that I was getting confused with seemingly contradictory instructions. Perhaps I haven't the application or enthusiasm required to pursue this way of life but I wish I had. For anyone who who has commitment this is well worth reading.

An imaginative approach to spiritual practice in difficult times, through the Buddhist teaching of the six paramitas or "perfections"--qualities that lead to kindness, wisdom, and an awakened life.

In frightening times, we wish the world could be otherwise. With a touch of imagination, it can be. Imagination helps us see what’s hidden, and it shape-shifts reality’s roiling twisting waves. In this inspiring reframe of a classic Buddhist teaching, Zen teacher Norman Fischer writes that the paramitas, or “six perfections”—generosity, ethical conduct, patience, joyful effort, meditation, and understanding—can help us reconfigure the world we live in. Ranging from our everyday concerns about relationships, ethics, and consumption to our artistic inspirations and broadest human yearnings, Fischer depicts imaginative spiritual practice as a necessary resource for our troubled times.

An imaginative approach to spiritual practice in difficult times, through the Buddhist teaching of the six paramitas or "perfections"--qualities that lead to kindness, wisdom, and an awakened life.

In frightening times, we wish the world could be otherwise. With a touch of imagination, it can be. Imagination helps us see what’s hidden, and it shape-shifts reality’s roiling twisting waves. In this inspiring reframe of a classic Buddhist teaching, Zen teacher Norman Fischer writes that the paramitas, or “six perfections”—generosity, ethical conduct, patience, joyful effort, meditation, and understanding—can help us reconfigure the world we live in. Ranging from our everyday concerns about relationships, ethics, and consumption to our artistic inspirations and broadest human yearnings, Fischer depicts imaginative spiritual practice as a necessary resource for our troubled times.