Sailing Home Using the Wisdom of Homer's Odyssey to Navigate Life's Perils and Pitfalls

by Fischer, Norman

• ISBN13: 9781556439964
• ISBN10: 1556439962
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-07-05
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books

Summary

Homerrs"sOdysseyholds a timeless allure. It is an ancient story for every generation: the struggle of a man on a long and difficult voyage longing to return to love and family. Odysseusrs"s strivings to overcome both divine and earthly obstacles and to control his own impulsive nature hold valuable lessons for us as we confront the challenges of daily life.Sailing Homebreathes fresh air into a classic we thought we knew, revealing its profound guidance for the modern seeker. Dividing the book into three parts-"Setting Forth," "Disaster," and "Return"-Fischer charts the course of Odysseusrs"s familiar wanderings. Readers come to see this ancient hero as a flawed human being who shares their own struggles and temptations, such as yielding to desire or fear or greed, and making peace with family. Featuring thoughtful meditations, illuminating anecdotes from Fischerrs"s and his studentsrs" lives, and stories from many wisdom traditions including Buddhist, Judaic, and Christian,SailingHomeshows the way to greater purpose in our own lives. The bookrs"s literary dimension expands its appeal beyond the Buddhist market to a wider spiritual audience and to anyone interested in the teachings of myth and story.

Author Biography

Poet, author, and Zen priest Norman Fischer is the founder and head teacher of the Everyday Zen Foundation. A leader of retreats worldwide, he has appeared on Oprah, PBS's Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, and Michael Krasny's Forum on NPR. He lives in Muir Beach, California.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xi
Introduction	p. 1
Setting Forth
The Sea of Stories	p. 13
The Paradox of Return	p. 24
Waiting	p. 31
Speak Your Grief	p. 38
False Stories	p. 45
Leaving Home	p. 52
A Mentor's Path to Enlightenment	p. 60
Practice with the Body	p. 73
Disaster
Working with Disaster, Pleasure, and Time	p. 85
The Lotus Eaters: Remembering to Practice	p. 97
Being Nobody	p. 104
Fatigue	p. 113
Circe, or Desire	p. 117
The Land of the Dead	p. 125
The Siren Call	p. 139
Impossible Choices: Scylla and Charybdis	p. 145
Return
Sleep	p. 167
Reveal Yourself!	p. 177
LoveÆs Risk	p. 186
On the Threshold	p. 203
Letters, or Forgiveness	p. 212
Peace	p. 220
Notes	p. 231
Bibligraphy	p. 235
Permissions	p. 236
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