Opening to You: Zen-Inspired Translations of the Psalms

by Norman Fischer

Applying his own Jewish roots and his knowledge of Eastern and Western spirituality, a Zen priest and poet presents a collection of stunning and personal translations of the Psalms for every spiritual path or religious background. 15,000 first printing.

Genres: Judaism, Buddhism, Religion, Spirituality, Poetry

160 pages, Hardcover

First published February 18, 2002

About the author

Zoketsu Norman Fischer (born 1946) is an American poet, writer, and Soto Zen priest, teaching and practicing in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki. He is a Dharma heir of Sojun Mel Weitsman, from whom he received Dharma transmission in 1988.

Reviews

[Irene · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not identify what was Zen about these re-writes of the Psalms. The slight alterations in phrasing did not seem to bring out a new theology. It only seemed to diminish the richness of the ancient poetry.

[Zane Akers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copped for $2 at the ReUzit shop, this book caught my attention because I'm interested in the Psalms and in Zen but I had never thought about what a Zen Psalm would look like. The poet-translator-reimaginer grew up in the Jewish tradition before becoming a Zen priest, and apparently rediscovered the Psalms while doing interfaith work with Trappist monks. The monks were chanting the Psalms in English, and Fischer was struck by the violence, passion and bitterness of the poems. He eventually decided to make a translation of 93 of the Psalms (he says he left out some of the ones that were overly repetitious but included all the hard-to-swallow poems) to come to a better understanding of the difficult material.
The result in most cases is a neutered-feeling psalm. The raw power of the poems pulsates through but is too often artificially muted by Zen-sensible language choices. I don't think the issue is a misunderstanding of the form or content of the poems-- Fischer talks in the introduction and afterword of going to considerable lengths in terms of reading, researching, and making his word choices--but rather a fundamental incompatibility of ideas. Fischer seems squeamish about verses like Ps 137:9 "Happy is the one who seizes [Babylon's] infants and dashes them against the rocks," which he fairly bowdlerizes as "A relief when your dark sprouts and black flowers / Are dashed against the rock of faith" (p 162). Sorry, but that's not even close. I have to agree with the Trappists he mentions in the introduction, whose consensus seems to be, Yes, the Psalms are hard, and that's the point.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I have become for intentional about my devotional life, I have read several different translations of the psalms. This is now my favorite. Norman Fischer has filtered his versions through his own spiritual life and heritage and then used his magnificent ability to write poetry to give me a new sense of what the psalms are speaking. The combination of Fischer's Jewish background, his own present practice of Buddhism and his Catholic friends must be what makes these so wonderful. I will go back to this book again and again.

[Michael Sasson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am grateful for the opportunity to have read multiple translations next to each other and I enjoyed Fischer's attempt to have the Psalms become prayers without a God to pray to but I wasn't sure that was worth a full book of Zen Psalms instead of a handful of favorite examples.

[R.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything I'd hoped. A translation/re-interpretation of the psalms that transforms them into something fresh and new that did not hit my kneejerk "I'm in church" reaction to the traditional language. Beautiful, thoughtful, meaningful poetry. Probably not for someone who is looking at this from a traditionalist viewpoint, but for my little-of-this-little-of-that spirituality: perfect.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Noble undertaking.
Not sure it adds any richness to the original poetry.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely reimagining that points you to reread the psalms yourself, reminiscent of the Message translation at points. I'm all about the interfaith dialogue!

[Chris Scott]

Thoughtful interpretations of the Psalms from a Zen Buddhist perspective

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful interpretation of the Psmals.