“The Chinese ideograph for forbearance is a heart with a sword dangling over it, another instance of language's brilliant way of showing us something surprising and important fossilized inside the meaning of a word. Vulnerability is built into our hearts,… — Norman Fischer Copy Share Image
“In a Zen retreat we have a format for working with these quicksilver changes: we sit with them, we pay attention to them... Being steady with mindfulness as an anchor for all the changes we go through is the way… — Norman Fischer Copy Share Image
“Why would we have to know everything all the time? Why do we have to be so knowledgeable, so smart, so in control? We… — Norman Fischer Copy Share Image
“Meditation is doing what you are doing - whether you are doing formal meditation or child care.” — Norman Fischer Copy Share Image
“This doesn’t work by thought and will. It doesn’t disregard thought and will, but thought and will are not the engine that makes this… — Norman Fischer Copy Share Image
“We realize how dangerous and painful life is if we don’t open up. We know we have to do it. And as soon as… — Norman Fischer Copy Share Image
“Renunciation isn't a moral imperative or a form of self-denial. It's simply cooperation with the way things are: for moments do pass away, one… — Norman Fischer Copy Share Image
“So it does turn out that we do need to begin by contemplating the profound nature of self and other. Because if you change… — Norman Fischer Copy Share Image
“In other words, to Train in the preliminaries is to stop moaning and feeling sorry for yourself and to recognize instead that regardless of… — Norman Fischer Copy Share Image
“Obviously it won’t do to love somebody and enjoy that person’s company but then, when things between you get difficult, to abandon the person.… — Norman Fischer Copy Share Image
“We now see that the only way that we could love ourselves is by loving others, and the only way that we could truly… — Norman Fischer Copy Share Image
“Although we don’t like to think about it, it seems that sorrow and suffering are inevitable in any human life, even a happy one.… — Norman Fischer Copy Share Image
“The actions, thoughts, and words of each of us are important. All of us together are making the world. So we have to ask… — Norman Fischer Copy Share Image
“When we sit we recognize the crucial, divine importance of absolutely everything that arises—every thought, every feeling, every breath, every unspeakable, unnameable impulse. But… — Norman Fischer Copy Share Image
