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Imagination, Creativity, and Buddha’s Way (2015)

In May of 2015, Chris Fortin led our Dharma Seminar in an investigation of imagination and creativity in Mahayana Buddhism in general and specifically in Soto Zen. Chris gave the first and last of the three talks, beginning with foundational concepts and a sense of gratitude to our practice, and Norman, filling in for her, gave the second talk, focusing on Zen koans.

Poetry of Dogen and Ryokan (2010)

In our December 2010 Dharma Seminar, we studied the Poetry of Dogen and Ryokan. Norman gave the first and third talk and Sue Moon gave the second. For the last seminar that month, Norman read a series of unedited poems from his trip to Japan earlier that year, a collection later edited and published as Escape this Crazy Life of Tears.

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April 17, 2025

A Monk in the World – Mary Ann Sacksteder

Mary Ann Sacksteder gives a dharma talk to the Dharma Seminar on “A Monk in the World.” Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without it. Thank...
April 13, 2025

On Being With Suffering – Guided Meditation – 4-11-25

Norman gives a guided meditation on “On Being With Suffering” to the SCIPI group April 11, 2025. Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without it. Thank...
April 10, 2025

Suzuki Roshi – Becoming Yourself

Norman gives a talk to the Dharma Seminar on “Becoming Yourself.”  This is based on excerpts of a new upcoming book on Suzuki Roshi by Jiryu Rutschman-Byler that is to...
April 8, 2025

Makor Or Passover Talk – April 6, 2025

Norman gives a Passover Talk to the Makor Or group April 6, 2025 Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without it. Thank you!  
April 4, 2025

Living by Vow – Talk 11 – 2025 Series – The World

Norman gives the eleventh and final talk of the “Living by Vow” 2025 Series on ‘The World’  to the Dharma Seminar as the focus of the Everyday Zen 2025 Practice...
March 29, 2025

Sesshin Villa Maria Del Mar 2025 – Talk 7 – Dogen’s Ocean Mudra Samadhi Part 2

Norman gives the seventh and last talk of the Villa Maria del Mar 2025 Sesshin on “Dogen’s Ocean Mudra Samadhi Part 2.” Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering...
March 28, 2025

Sesshin Villa Maria Del Mar 2025 – Talk 6 – Already Forgiven – Shuso Laura Trippi

Shuso Laura Trippi gives the sixth talk of the Villa Maria Del Mar 2025 Sesshin on “Already Forgiven.” Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without it....
March 28, 2025

Sesshin Villa Maria Del Mar 2025 – Talk 5 – On the Meal Chant Part 3 – Living by Vow 2025 – Talk 11

Norman gives the fifth talk of the Villa Maria del Mar 2025 Sesshin  “On the Meal Chant Part 3.” Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without...
March 27, 2025

Sesshin Villa Maria Del Mar 2025 – Talk 4 – On the Meal Chant Part 2

Norman gives the fourth talk of the Villa Maria del Mar 2025 Sesshin  “On the Meal Chant Part 2.” Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without...
March 27, 2025

Villa Maria Del Mar Sesshin 2025 – Talk 3 – Way Seeking Mind – Laura Trippi

Shuso Laura Trippi gives the third talk of the Villa Maria Del Mar 2025 Sesshin on her “Way Seeking Mind” journey to entering the practice. Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We...
March 26, 2025

Sesshin Villa Maria Del Mar 2025 – Talk 2 – On the Meal Chant

Norman gives the second talk of the Villa Maria del Mar 2025 Sesshin  “On the Meal Chant.” Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without it. Thank...
March 25, 2025

Sesshin Villa Maria Del Mar 2025 – Talk 1 – Dogen’s Ocean Mudra Samadhi

Norman gives the first talk of the Villa Maria del Mar 2025 Sesshin on “Dogen’s Ocean Mudra Samadhi. Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without it....
March 21, 2025

Living by Vow – Talk 8 – Shuso Laura Trippi – Forms in the Expanded Field

Shuso Laura Trippi gives the eighth talk of the “Living by Vow” 2025 Series on ‘Forms in the Expanded Field”  to the Dharma Seminar as the focus of the Everyday...
March 21, 2025

On Vulnerability -Guided Meditation – SCIPI – 3-21-25

Norman gives a guided meditation on “Vulnerability” to the SCIPI group March 21, 2025. Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without it. Thank you!  
March 13, 2025

Living by Vow – Talk Seven – 2025 Series – The Verse for Opening the Sutra

Norman gives the seventh talk of the “Living by Vow” 2025 Series on ‘The Verse for Opening the Sutra’  to the Dharma Seminar as the focus of the Everyday Zen...
March 6, 2025

Living by Vow – Talk 6 – 2025 Series – The Robe Chant

Norman gives the sixth talk of the “Living by Vow” 2025 Series on “The Robe Chant”  to the Dharma Seminar as the focus of the Everyday Zen 2025 Practice Period....
March 2, 2025

Living by Vow – Talk 5 – 2025 Series – The Three Refuges Part Two

Norman gives the fifth talk of the “Living by Vow” 2025 Series on “The Three Refuges Part Two” to the Dharma Seminar as the focus of the Everyday Zen 2025...
March 2, 2025

Walking Meditation – Guided Meditation – 2/28/25

Norman gives a guided mediation on “Walking Meditation.” Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without it. Thank you!
March 2, 2025

Basic Meditation – Guided Meditation – 2/28/25

Norman gives a guided mediation on “Basic Meditation.” Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without it. Thank you!
February 26, 2025

Living by Vow – Talk 4 – 2025 Series – The Three Refuges

Norman gives the fourth talk of the “Living by Vow” 2025 Series  to the Dharma Seminar as the focus of the Everyday Zen 2025 Practice Period. His lectures reference Shohaku...
February 21, 2025

Living by Vow – Talk 3 – 2025 Series – Shuso Laura Trippi – Vowing Through Forms

Shuso Laura Trippi gives the third dharma talk of the “Living by Vow” 2025 Series to the Dharma Seminar as the focus of the Everyday Zen 2025 Practice Period. Her...
February 12, 2025

Living by Vow – Talk 2 – 2025 Series

Norman gives his second talk of the “Living by Vow” 2025 Series to the Dharma Seminar as the focus of the Everyday Zen 2025 Practice Period. His lectures reference Shohaku...
February 11, 2025

Transmission of the Lamp – Ashvaghosha – Zen Center for Contemplative Care 2/10/25

Norman gives a talk from the “Transmission of the Lamp” on Ashvaghosa to the Zen Center for Contemplative Care Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without...
February 6, 2025

Living by Vow – Talk 1 – 2025 Series

Norman gives his first talk of the “Living by Vow” 2025 Series to the Dharma Seminar as the focus of the Everyday Zen 2025 Practice Period. His lectures reference Shohaku...
February 2, 2025

Practice Period Opening 2025 – All Day Sitting – Norman Fischer and Shuso Laura Trippi

Norman opens the 2025 Everyday Zen Practice Period with a talk on Dogen’s practice period instructions followed by Shuso Laura Trippi’s readings of selected practice period intentions from submissions of...
January 30, 2025

Dogen’s Continuous Practice – 2024/5 Series – On Language (Painting a Rice Cake)

Norman gives the seventeenth talk to the Dharma Seminar on Dogen’s Continuous Practice from Kaz Tanahashi”s translation of the Shobogenzo Fasciles 31a and 31b. In this talk Norman speaks On...
January 22, 2025

Dogen’s Continuous Practice – Talk 16 – 2024/5 Series – Phillip Whalen on Zazen

Norman gives the sixteenth talk to the Dharma Seminar on Dogen’s Continuous Practice from Kaz Tanahashi”s translation of the Shobogenzo Fasciles 31a and 31b. In this talk Norman speaks on...
January 16, 2025

Dogen’s Continuous Practice – Talk 15 – 2024/5 Series – Huike’s Arm

Norman gives the fifteenth talk to the Dharma Seminar on Dogen’s Continuous Practice from Kaz Tanahashi”s translation of the Shobogenzo Fasciles 31a and 31b. In this talk Norman speaks on...
January 15, 2025

Response to Suffering – Zen Center for Contemplative Care – 1/11/25

Norman gives a talk on “Response to Suffering” to the Zen Center for Contemplative Care on January 11. 2025 .Suggested donation: $7 https://bit.ly/donate-edz-online-teachings We cannot continue offering teachings online without...
January 9, 2025

Dogen’s Continuous Practice – Talk 14 – 2024/5 Series – Parshva and Blanche

Norman gives the fourteenth  talk to the Dharma Seminar on Dogen’s Continuous Practice from Kaz Tanahashi”s translation of the Shobogenzo Fasciles 31a and 31b. In this talk Norman speaks on...