In this fifth session of Upaya’s Dogen Seminar, Norman and Kathie Fischer explore Dogen’s Four Methods of Guidance (Bodaisatta Shishobo), one of the most accessible and transformative fascicles of the Shobogenzo. Building on reflections about paradox in Zen, Norman Fischer explains how paradox “extends the subtlety and the scope of what you mean,” allowing us to deepen our curiosity toward teachings such as “Nirvana is samsara.” Together, Norman and Kathie unpack Dogen’s radical instructions: generosity as “not craving,” kind speech as truly caring, beneficial action as “benefiting self and others together,” and identity action as the non-separation of self and other—exemplified in the story of Lingzhao who, after seeing her father fall, runs up and falls beside him. “She did not run up to help her father solve his problem. She just joins him. She just comes to be with him just where he is.” We are pulled into the question: what is it like to join the joyful paradox of service through practice?
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