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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name = Dennis Merzel
|name = Dennis Merzel
|image = Genpo Roshi Merzel Profile Picture.jpg
|image = Genpo Roshi Merzel Profile Picture.jpg
|birth_date = June 3, 1944
|birth_date = June 3, 1944
|birth_place = [[Brooklyn]], New York, U.S.
|birth_place = [[Brooklyn]], New York, U.S.
Line 15: Line 15:
{{Western Buddhism}}
{{Western Buddhism}}
[[File:Taizan Maezumi and Dennis Genpo Merzel.jpg|thumb|[[Taizan Maezumi]] and Merzel]]
[[File:Taizan Maezumi and Dennis Genpo Merzel.jpg|thumb|[[Taizan Maezumi]] and Merzel]]
'''Dennis Merzel''' (born June 3, 1944 in [[Brooklyn, New York]]) is an American [[Zen]] and spirituality teacher, also known as '''Genpo Merzel'''.
'''Dennis Merzel''' (born June 3, 1944, in [[Brooklyn, New York]]) is an American [[Zen]] and spirituality teacher, also known as '''Genpo Roshi'''.


==Biography==
==Biography==


===Early life===
===Early life===
Dennis Paul Merzel was born on June 3, 1944 in [[Brooklyn, New York]] and was raised and schooled in [[Long Beach, California]]. His family was [[American Jews|Jewish]] (his grandfather was a [[Rabbi]]),<ref>{{cite journal |last= Stroud|first= Michael|date= January 2004|journal= [[Shambhala Sun]]}} ([http://www.mindful.org/in-your-life/spirituality/coming-home the article] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625180236/http://mindful.org/in-your-life/spirituality/coming-home |date=June 25, 2011 }} on "Mindful"); [http://www.lionsroar.com/coming-home partial version] on Lion's Roar</ref> but he was raised as an [[agnostic]] by his father and as an [[atheist]] by his mother.<ref>{{cite web| title =Big Think Interview with Dennis Genpo Merzel Roshi| publisher =Big Think| date=August 3, 2009| url=http://bigthink.com/videos/big-think-interview-with-dennis-genpo-merzel-roshi| access-date =November 13, 2014}}</ref> He was a champion swimmer and an all-American water polo player. He was a lifeguard and began teaching public school while obtaining a master's degree in educational administration from the [[University of Southern California]].<ref group=web name="omega"/><ref group=web group=news name="jarvik">{{cite web| last =Jarvik| first =Elaine| title =The Zen of Sitting| publisher =Desert Morning News| date=August 26, 2005| url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600158906,00.html| access-date =January 3, 2008}}</ref>
Dennis Paul Merzel was born on June 3, 1944, in [[Brooklyn, New York]], and was raised and schooled in [[Long Beach, California]]. His family was [[American Jews|Jewish]] (his grandfather was a [[Rabbi]]),<ref>{{cite web |last=Stroud |first=Michael |date=January 2004 |title=Spirituality - Coming Home |url=https://www.mindful.org/coming-home |archive-url= |archive-date= |website=Mindful |publisher=Shambhala Sun}} [http://www.lionsroar.com/coming-home Partial version] on Lion's Roar</ref> but he was raised as an [[agnostic]] by his father and as an [[atheist]] by his mother.<ref>{{cite web| title =Big Think Interview with Dennis Genpo Merzel Roshi| publisher =Big Think| date=August 3, 2009| url=http://bigthink.com/videos/big-think-interview-with-dennis-genpo-merzel-roshi| access-date =November 13, 2014}}</ref> He was a champion swimmer and an all-American water polo player. He was a lifeguard and began teaching public school while obtaining a master's degree in educational administration from the [[University of Southern California]].<ref group=web name="omega"/><ref group=web group=news name="jarvik">{{cite web| last =Jarvik| first =Elaine| title =The Zen of Sitting| publisher =Desert Morning News| date=August 26, 2005| url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600158906,00.html| access-date =January 3, 2008}}</ref>


===Zen Buddhism===
===Zen Buddhism===
While on a trip in 1971 to the [[Mojave Desert]] in California with two friends, Merzel had what he described as an "awakening experience".<ref group=web name=BigMind /><ref group=web>[http://www.kripalu.org/article/313/ Big Mind: An Interview with Genpo Roshi] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701071517/http://kripalu.org/article/313/ |date=July 1, 2014 }}</ref> Following this, he left his career as a school teacher for a year to live in the mountains alone in a cabin near [[San Luis Obispo]]. In 1972<ref group=web name=BigMind>[http://bigmind.org/genpo-roshi Big Mind, ''Genpo Roshi'']</ref> he met the Japanese-born Zen teacher [[Taizan Maezumi]], and moved to Los Angeles to study under him.<ref group=web name="omega">{{cite web| title =Faculty Profile| publisher =Omega Institute| url=http://www.eomega.org/omega/faculty/viewProfile/b4e2666110bcf427e5cc53082bf357da/?printable=true| access-date =January 3, 2008}}</ref><ref group=news>{{cite news|title=Sitting judge: Retired Utah chief justice finds his way as a Buddhist monk|newspaper=[[Deseret News]]|date=April 24, 2004}}</ref><ref group=news>{{cite news|title=Sensei Coppens: het grootste geschenk is de onbevreesdheid |url=http://www.trouw.nl/krantenarchief/1997/01/11/2517857/Sensei_Coppens__het_grootste_geschenk_is_de_onbevreesdheid.html |access-date=February 12, 2011 |newspaper=[[Trouw]] |date=January 11, 1997 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013175336/http://www.trouw.nl/krantenarchief/1997/01/11/2517857/Sensei_Coppens__het_grootste_geschenk_is_de_onbevreesdheid.html |archive-date=October 13, 2012 }}</ref>
While on a trip in 1971 to the [[Mojave Desert]] in California with two friends, Merzel had what he described as an "awakening experience".<ref group=web name=BigMind /><ref group=web>[http://www.kripalu.org/article/313/ Big Mind: An Interview with Genpo Roshi] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701071517/http://kripalu.org/article/313/ |date=July 1, 2014 }}</ref> Following this, he left his career as a school teacher for a year to live in the mountains alone in a cabin near [[San Luis Obispo]]. In 1972<ref group=web name=BigMind>{{Cite web |url=http://bigmind.org/genpo-roshi |title=Big Mind, ''Genpo Roshi'' |access-date=May 30, 2012 |archive-date=June 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621200507/http://bigmind.org/genpo-roshi |url-status=dead }}</ref> he met the Japanese-born Zen teacher [[Taizan Maezumi]], and moved to Los Angeles to study under him.<ref group=web name="omega">{{cite web| title =Faculty Profile| publisher =Omega Institute| url=http://www.eomega.org/omega/faculty/viewProfile/b4e2666110bcf427e5cc53082bf357da/?printable=true| access-date =January 3, 2008}}</ref><ref group=news>{{cite news|title=Sitting judge: Retired Utah chief justice finds his way as a Buddhist monk|newspaper=[[Deseret News]]|date=April 24, 2004}}</ref><ref group=news>{{cite news|title=Sensei Coppens: het grootste geschenk is de onbevreesdheid |url=http://www.trouw.nl/krantenarchief/1997/01/11/2517857/Sensei_Coppens__het_grootste_geschenk_is_de_onbevreesdheid.html |access-date=February 12, 2011 |newspaper=[[Trouw]] |date=January 11, 1997 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013175336/http://www.trouw.nl/krantenarchief/1997/01/11/2517857/Sensei_Coppens__het_grootste_geschenk_is_de_onbevreesdheid.html |archive-date=October 13, 2012 }}</ref>
Merzel was ordained as an ''[[unsui]]'', or novice priest, in 1973.{{sfn|Ford|2006|p=166}} In 1980, a year after completing formal [[Kōan]] study, Merzel received [[dharma transmission]], becoming Maezumi's second [[Dharma transmission|Dharma successor]].{{sfn|Ford|2006|p=166}}<ref group=web name=BigMind /> In 1981 Merzel underwent [[Zen ranks and hierarchy#Zuise|zuise]]{{refn|group=note|Ceremonial "abbot-for-one-night" rituals at the head temples of the Soto school}} in Japan,{{sfn|Ford|2006|p=166}} and in 1988 he was officially installed as abbot of Hosshinji Zen temple in Bar Harbor, Maine.<ref group=web name="IN" />{{refn|group=note|A traditional ceremony of "entering the temple" which marks the end of the monastic training period and becoming part of the clergy.{{sfn|Borup|2008|p=180}}}} In 1995 Merzel received the title of [[Zen ranks and hierarchy#Dendō Kyōshi|Dendō-kyōshi Kenshuso]], a now defunct category officially recognizing Western Zen priests by the [[Sōtō]] School Headquarters in Japan (Sōtō-shū) .<ref group=web name=SweepingZen /> In 1996 Merzel received [[Dharma transmission|Inka]] from [[Bernie Glassman]],{{sfn|Ford|2006|p=166}}<ref group=web name=BigMind /> after Maezumi's death in 1995.<ref group=web name="IN">[http://www.integralnaked.org/contributor-26.aspx IntegralNaked, ''Who is Genpo Roshi?'']</ref>{{refn|group=note|IntegralNaked: "Roshi Bernie had received Inka from Maezumi Roshi shortly before the latter's death in May of 1995."<ref group=web name="IN" /> SweepingZen: "In the Japanese Rinzai schools, inka is the equivalent of Sōtō Zen dharma transmission (shiho ceremony), and is the final level of empowerment as a teacher. In the Harada-Yasutani lineage, inka is one level of empowerment beyond dharma transmission."<ref group=web name="SZM">{{Cite web |url=http://sweepingzen.com/hakuyu-taizan-maezumi-roshi-lineage-chart/ |title=Sweeping Zen, ''Taizan Maezumi Lineage Chart'' |access-date=May 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522085413/http://sweepingzen.com/hakuyu-taizan-maezumi-roshi-lineage-chart/ |archive-date=May 22, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Great Plains Zen Center: "This Inka ceremony grants final approval in our Rinzai lineage through Musa Koryu Roshi, another one of Maezumi Roshi's teachers."<ref group=web>[http://www.greatplainszen.org/inka Great Plains Zen center, ''Roshi receives Inka'']</ref>}} This made Merzel Bernie Glassman's first Inka successor and made him the second in Maezumi Roshi's lineage to be recognized as a Zen Master.<ref group=web name=BigMind /> Merzel is the founder<ref group=news>{{cite news|last=Bloom|first=Anna|title=How to bring Zen to the grocery store |newspaper=[[Park Record]]|date=May 1, 2007}}</ref> and former Abbot of [[Kanzeon Zen Center]].
Merzel was ordained as an ''[[unsui]]'', or novice priest, in 1973.{{sfn|Ford|2006|p=166}} In 1980, a year after completing [[kōan]] study, Merzel received [[dharma transmission]], becoming Maezumi's second [[Dharma transmission|Dharma successor]].{{sfn|Ford|2006|p=166}}<ref group=web name=BigMind /> In 1981 Merzel underwent [[Zen ranks and hierarchy#Zuise|zuise]]{{refn|group=note|Ceremonial "abbot-for-one-night" rituals at the head temples of the Soto school}} in Japan,{{sfn|Ford|2006|p=166}} and in 1988 he was officially installed as abbot of Hosshinji Zen temple in Bar Harbor, Maine.<ref group=web name="IN" />{{refn|group=note|A traditional ceremony of "entering the temple" which marks the end of the monastic training period and becoming part of the clergy.{{sfn|Borup|2008|p=180}}}} In 1995 Merzel received the title of [[Zen ranks and hierarchy#Dendō Kyōshi|Dendō-kyōshi Kenshuso]], a now defunct category officially recognizing Western Zen priests by the [[Sōtō]] School Headquarters in Japan (Sōtō-shū) .<ref group=web name=SweepingZen /> In 1996 Merzel received [[Dharma transmission|Inka]] from [[Bernie Glassman]],{{sfn|Ford|2006|p=166}}<ref group=web name=BigMind /> after Maezumi's death in 1995.<ref group=web name="IN">[http://www.integralnaked.org/contributor-26.aspx IntegralNaked, ''Who is Genpo Roshi?'']</ref>{{refn|group=note|IntegralNaked: "Roshi Bernie had received Inka from Maezumi Roshi shortly before the latter's death in May of 1995."<ref group=web name="IN" /> SweepingZen: "In the Japanese Rinzai schools, inka is the equivalent of Sōtō Zen dharma transmission (shiho ceremony), and is the final level of empowerment as a teacher. In the Harada-Yasutani lineage, inka is one level of empowerment beyond dharma transmission."<ref group=web name="SZM">{{Cite web |url=http://sweepingzen.com/hakuyu-taizan-maezumi-roshi-lineage-chart/ |title=Sweeping Zen, ''Taizan Maezumi Lineage Chart'' |access-date=May 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522085413/http://sweepingzen.com/hakuyu-taizan-maezumi-roshi-lineage-chart/ |archive-date=May 22, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Great Plains Zen Center: "This Inka ceremony grants final approval in our Rinzai lineage through Musa Koryu Roshi, another one of Maezumi Roshi's teachers."<ref group=web>[http://www.greatplainszen.org/inka Great Plains Zen center, ''Roshi receives Inka'']</ref>}} This made Merzel Bernie Glassman's first Inka successor and made him the second in Maezumi Roshi's lineage to be recognized as a Zen Master.<ref group=web name=BigMind /> Merzel is the founder<ref group=news>{{cite news|last=Bloom|first=Anna|title=How to bring Zen to the grocery store |newspaper=[[Park Record]]|date=May 1, 2007}}</ref> and former Abbot of [[Kanzeon Zen Center]].
<ref group=news>{{cite news|last=Warburton|first=Nicole|title=New year, New mind – Zen master helps others find enlightenment | url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705274717/New-year-New-mind---Zen-master-helps-others-find-enlightenment.html|access-date=February 18, 2011|newspaper=[[Deseret News]]|date=January 3, 2009}}</ref>
<ref group=news>{{cite news|last=Warburton|first=Nicole|title=New year, New mind – Zen master helps others find enlightenment | url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705274717/New-year-New-mind---Zen-master-helps-others-find-enlightenment.html|access-date=February 18, 2011|newspaper=[[Deseret News]]|date=January 3, 2009}}</ref>


===Big Mind===
===Big Mind===
In 1983 Merzel began studying Voice Dialogue—a Jungian therapeutic technique designed to expand the individual's ability to make choices in life rather than to behave in an automatic and unconscious fashion<ref group=web name="Voice Dialogue, An Introduction">[http://www.delos-inc.com/articles/Voice_Dialogue-_An_Introduction.htm Hal Stone PhD and Sidra Stone PhD, ''Voice Dialogue: An Introduction to the Use of Voice Dialogue'']</ref>—with Hal and Sidra Stone. Shortly thereafter, he began to experiment with integrating Voice Dialogue with the Zen tradition,<ref group=web name="The Search for Big Mind">[http://www.voicedialogueinternational.com/articles-b/Search_For_Big_Mind.pdf Genpo Roshi to Diane Olson Rutter, ''The Search for Big Mind On the Trail to Enlightenment'']</ref> and in 1999 he introduced the [[Big Mind Process]]™.<ref group=web name="IN" /> The aim of the Big Mind Process is to combine "Eastern, Buddhist insights with Western psychoanalytical ideas,"<ref group=news name=limpt>{{cite news|last=Limpt|first=Cokky van|title=Verlichting voor westerse geesten|url=http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4324/Nieuws/article/detail/1084254/2010/01/22/Verlichting-voor-westerse-geesten.dhtml|access-date=April 3, 2011|newspaper=[[Trouw]]|date=January 22, 2010}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|From the Big Mind website: "In 1999 he created the Big Mind Process™, also known as Big Mind/Big Heart, which philosopher Ken Wilber has called “arguably the most important and original discovery in the last two centuries of Buddhism.” It has broadened and enriched not only the teaching of Zen but spiritual practices in other traditions as well, enabling thousands of people from all walks of life and religious backgrounds to have an awakening with little or no prior consciousness study. It is being used in many fields, including psychotherapy, law, medicine, education, mediation, business, athletics, social work, family therapy, and work with prison inmates, hospital patients and the dying. Roshi continues to train people to bring the Big Mind process and Big Heart Zen out into the world, and remains deeply committed to their ongoing evolution."<ref group=web name=BigMind />}}{{refn|group=note|Japanese Soto Zen founder [[Dōgen Zenji]] uses the phrase in his ''[[Tenzo Kyōkun]]'' (''Instructions to the Chief Cook'');{{sfn|Dōgen Zenji|Uchiyama|1983|p=18, 38}} as does 20th-century Zen master [[Shunryu Suzuki]] in talks collected in the book ''Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind''.<ref group=web>[http://hardcorezen.blogspot.nl/2010/04/big-mind-sucks-part-million.html Brad Warner, ''Big Mind™ Sucks (Part A Million)'']</ref>}} and according to Merzel:
In 1983 Merzel began studying Voice Dialogue—a Jungian therapeutic technique designed to expand the individual's ability to make choices in life rather than to behave in an automatic and unconscious fashion<ref group=web name="Voice Dialogue, An Introduction">[http://www.delos-inc.com/articles/Voice_Dialogue-_An_Introduction.htm Hal Stone PhD and Sidra Stone PhD, ''Voice Dialogue: An Introduction to the Use of Voice Dialogue'']</ref>—with Hal and Sidra Stone. Shortly thereafter, he began to experiment with integrating Voice Dialogue with the Zen tradition,<ref group=web name="The Search for Big Mind">[http://www.voicedialogueinternational.com/articles-b/Search_For_Big_Mind.pdf Genpo Roshi to Diane Olson Rutter, ''The Search for Big Mind On the Trail to Enlightenment'']</ref> and in 1999 he introduced the [[Big Mind Process]]™.<ref group=web name="IN" /> The aim of the Big Mind Process is to combine "Eastern, Buddhist insights with Western psychoanalytical ideas,"<ref group=news name=limpt>{{cite news|last=Limpt|first=Cokky van|title=Verlichting voor westerse geesten|url=http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4324/Nieuws/article/detail/1084254/2010/01/22/Verlichting-voor-westerse-geesten.dhtml|access-date=April 3, 2011|newspaper=[[Trouw]]|date=January 22, 2010}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|From the Big Mind website: "In 1999 he created the Big Mind Process™, also known as Big Mind/Big Heart, which philosopher Ken Wilber has called “arguably the most important and original discovery in the last two centuries of Buddhism.” It has broadened and enriched not only the teaching of Zen but spiritual practices in other traditions as well, enabling thousands of people from all walks of life and religious backgrounds to have an awakening with little or no prior consciousness study. It is being used in many fields, including psychotherapy, law, medicine, education, mediation, business, athletics, social work, family therapy, and work with prison inmates, hospital patients and the dying. Roshi continues to train people to bring the Big Mind process and Big Heart Zen out into the world, and remains deeply committed to their ongoing evolution."<ref group=web name=BigMind />}}{{refn|group=note|Japanese Soto Zen founder [[Dōgen Zenji]] uses the phrase in his ''[[Tenzo Kyōkun]]'' (''Instructions to the Chief Cook'');{{sfn|Dōgen Zenji|Uchiyama|1983|p=18, 38}} as does 20th-century Zen master [[Shunryu Suzuki]] in talks collected in the book ''Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind''.<ref group=web>[http://hardcorezen.blogspot.nl/2010/04/big-mind-sucks-part-million.html Brad Warner, ''Big Mind™ Sucks (Part A Million)'']</ref>}} and according to Merzel:
{{quote| It allows a person to step out of their ego and have a universal mind or mystical experience, to attain what is commonly called enlightenment, self realization, Christ mind, or Buddha mind.<ref group=web name="The Search for Big Mind">[http://www.voicedialogueinternational.com/articles-b/Search_For_Big_Mind.pdf Genpo Roshi to Diane Olson Rutter, ''The Search for Big Mind On the Trail to Enlightenment'']</ref>}}
{{blockquote| It allows a person to step out of their ego and have a universal mind or mystical experience, to attain what is commonly called enlightenment, self realization, Christ mind, or Buddha mind.<ref group=web name="The Search for Big Mind">[http://www.voicedialogueinternational.com/articles-b/Search_For_Big_Mind.pdf Genpo Roshi to Diane Olson Rutter, ''The Search for Big Mind On the Trail to Enlightenment'']</ref>}}


Merzel has organized [[Big Mind]]™ retreats and events nationally and internationally, such as an annual event in the [[Netherlands]] that has attracted hundreds of participants.<ref group=news name=limpt/> Responses to Big Mind have been variously negative<ref group=web name="BW">{{citation|url=http://hardcorezen.blogspot.nl/2010/04/big-mind-sucks-part-million.html|author=Brad Warner|title=Big Mind™ Sucks (Part A Million)}}</ref><ref group=web name="BB">{{citation|url=http://ymlp.com/z37neZ|author=Barbara O'Brien|title=Another Zen Master Scandal|access-date=May 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112021912/http://ymlp.com/z37neZ|archive-date=November 12, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and positive.<ref group=web name="DH">{{citation|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/peace-mind-zen-master-gerpo-merzel-big-mind-article-1.321112|author=Denis Hamill|title=Peace of mind in Zen master Genpo Merzel's Big Mind}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|Negative:<br>* Brad Warner: "Big Mind™ is irresponsible and dangerous. But there is a lot of irresponsible and dangerous stuff going on in the world of this type of cheesy vaguely Eastern feel-good-now spirituality. The reason I have focused so much attention on Genpo Roshi’s rotten Big Mind™ scam is because it pretends to be related to Zen. Not only to Zen, but to the Soto tradition of Master Dogen. Genpo has even stolen Suzuki Roshi’s phrase “big mind” — first used in his book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind — and trademarked it for himself (SFZC really should make a legal complaint about that, since they own the copyright to Suzuki’s works). But Big Mind™ has nothing whatsoever in common with real Zen practice."<ref group=web name="BW"/><br>* Barbara O'Brien (2011): "What always (to me) made Big Mind™ sound hinky is that it is marketed as enlightenment on speed dial. By using Genpo's techniques, the pitch said, you could save yourself years of sitting zazen before realizing satori. Big Mind™ is taught mostly through seminars that charge a hefty enrollment fee, beginning at $150, which I'll come back to in a minute. I understand some people have paid as much as $50,000 for quickie enlightenment.<ref group=web name="BB"/><br>Positive:<br>* Denis Hamill: "I approached "Big Mind, Big Heart" with a jaundiced eye, expecting snake oil. But I found it compelling and life-changing. I can't say that I have achieved "kensho." But I have reached a place where I no longer do a Ben Hur chariot race on the BQE after someone flips me the bird. I shout a lot less. I deal with envy and petty jealousies by embracing and owning the emotion and then transcending it.<ref group=web name="DH"/>}}
Merzel has organized [[Big Mind]]™ retreats and events nationally and internationally, such as an annual event in the [[Netherlands]] that has attracted hundreds of participants.<ref group=news name=limpt/> Responses to Big Mind have been variously negative<ref group=web name="BW">{{citation|url=http://hardcorezen.blogspot.nl/2010/04/big-mind-sucks-part-million.html|author=Brad Warner|title=Big Mind™ Sucks (Part A Million)}}</ref><ref group=web name="BB">{{citation|url=http://ymlp.com/z37neZ|author=Barbara O'Brien|title=Another Zen Master Scandal|access-date=May 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112021912/http://ymlp.com/z37neZ|archive-date=November 12, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and positive.<ref group=web name="DH">{{citation|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/peace-mind-zen-master-gerpo-merzel-big-mind-article-1.321112|author=Denis Hamill|title=Peace of mind in Zen master Genpo Merzel's Big Mind}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|Negative:<br>* Brad Warner: "Big Mind™ is irresponsible and dangerous. But there is a lot of irresponsible and dangerous stuff going on in the world of this type of cheesy vaguely Eastern feel-good-now spirituality. The reason I have focused so much attention on Genpo Roshi’s rotten Big Mind™ scam is because it pretends to be related to Zen. Not only to Zen, but to the Soto tradition of Master Dogen. Genpo has even stolen Suzuki Roshi’s phrase “big mind” — first used in his book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind — and trademarked it for himself (SFZC really should make a legal complaint about that, since they own the copyright to Suzuki’s works). But Big Mind™ has nothing whatsoever in common with real Zen practice."<ref group=web name="BW"/><br>* Barbara O'Brien (2011): "What always (to me) made Big Mind™ sound hinky is that it is marketed as enlightenment on speed dial. By using Genpo's techniques, the pitch said, you could save yourself years of sitting zazen before realizing satori. Big Mind™ is taught mostly through seminars that charge a hefty enrollment fee, beginning at $150, which I'll come back to in a minute. I understand some people have paid as much as $50,000 for quickie enlightenment.<ref group=web name="BB"/><br>Positive:<br>* Denis Hamill: "I approached "Big Mind, Big Heart" with a jaundiced eye, expecting snake oil. But I found it compelling and life-changing. I can't say that I have achieved "kensho." But I have reached a place where I no longer do a Ben Hur chariot race on the BQE after someone flips me the bird. I shout a lot less. I deal with envy and petty jealousies by embracing and owning the emotion and then transcending it.<ref group=web name="DH"/>}}


A randomized clinical trial of Merzel's Big Mind process has been carried out as part of a masters thesis "to test the hypothesis that a Zen training method using a self-based dialogue approach called Big Mind (Merzel, 2007) produces significant changes in subjective experience that are similar to the spiritual experiences of long-term meditators during deep meditation and, second, to examine whether the effect brings about any lasting positive psychological improvements in both spirituality and well-being measures."{{sfn|Johnson|2011}}{{Primary source inline|date=April 2017}} The participants appeared to score higher on various measures after participation, but the reported effects may also result from factors such as group effect, suggestibility, and/or simple expectation,{{sfn|Johnson|2011}}{{Primary source inline|date=April 2017}} and the study may have limited generalizability due to the high level of education of the participants.{{sfn|Johnson|2011}}{{Primary source inline|date=April 2017}}{{refn|group=note|See also [http://www.tricycle.com/blog/meditation-nation Linda Heuman, ''Meditation Nation'', Tricycle April 25, 2014].}}
A randomized clinical trial of Merzel's Big Mind process has been carried out as part of a masters thesis "to test the hypothesis that a Zen training method using a self-based dialogue approach called Big Mind (Merzel, 2007) produces significant changes in subjective experience that are similar to the spiritual experiences of long-term meditators during deep meditation and, second, to examine whether the effect brings about any lasting positive psychological improvements in both spirituality and well-being measures."{{sfn|Johnson|2011}} The participants appeared to score higher on various measures after participation, but the reported effects may also result from factors such as group effect, suggestibility, and/or simple expectation,{{sfn|Johnson|2011}} and the study may have limited generalizability due to the high level of education of the participants.{{sfn|Johnson|2011}}{{refn|group=note|See also [http://www.tricycle.com/blog/meditation-nation Linda Heuman, ''Meditation Nation'', Tricycle April 25, 2014].}}


==Resignation from White Plum==
==Resignation from White Plum==
Line 40: Line 40:
In August 1992, a group of 12 American Zen teachers sent a letter to Taizan Maezumi, expressing concern about Merzel's relationships with a number of female students, his lack of remorse, and his lack of responsibility. They asked Maezumi to withdraw Merzel's sanction to teach.<ref group=web>{{Cite web |url=http://sweepingzen.com/open-letters-to-kanzeon-zen-center |title=SweepingZen, ''Open letters to Kanzeon Zen Center'' |access-date=June 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929022304/http://sweepingzen.com/open-letters-to-kanzeon-zen-center |archive-date=September 29, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In August 1992, a group of 12 American Zen teachers sent a letter to Taizan Maezumi, expressing concern about Merzel's relationships with a number of female students, his lack of remorse, and his lack of responsibility. They asked Maezumi to withdraw Merzel's sanction to teach.<ref group=web>{{Cite web |url=http://sweepingzen.com/open-letters-to-kanzeon-zen-center |title=SweepingZen, ''Open letters to Kanzeon Zen Center'' |access-date=June 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929022304/http://sweepingzen.com/open-letters-to-kanzeon-zen-center |archive-date=September 29, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


In February 2011, after admitting to three extra-marital affairs, Merzel said he would disrobe as a Buddhist priest, resign as an elder of the [[White Plum Asanga]], step down as Abbot of Kanzeon, and stop teaching for an indefinite period to seek counseling.<ref group=news>{{cite news|last=Ryan|first=Philip|title=Genpo Merzel disrobes|url=http://www.tricycle.com/blog/genpo-merzel-disrobes|access-date=February 18, 2011|newspaper=[[Tricycle: The Buddhist Review]]|date=February 7, 2011}}</ref><ref group=news>{{cite news|last=Limpt|first=Cokky van|title=Pleegde de zenmeester overspel of was het misbruik?|newspaper=[[Trouw]]|date=March 23, 2011}}</ref><ref group=web>[http://www.shambhalasun.com/news/?p=18782 Buddhadharma, ''Dennis Genpo Merzel disrobes as a Zen priest (Updated)'']</ref><ref group=news>[http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51270057-76/merzel-zen-center-buddhist.html.csp Peggy Fletches Stack, February 25, 2011, ''Utah Zen master admits affair, leaves center'', The Salt Lake Tribune]</ref>
In February 2011, after admitting to three extra-marital affairs, Merzel said he would disrobe as a Buddhist priest, resign as an elder of the [[White Plum Asanga]], step down as Abbot of Kanzeon, and stop teaching for an indefinite period to seek counseling.<ref group=news>{{cite news|last=Ryan|first=Philip|title=Genpo Merzel disrobes|url=http://www.tricycle.com/blog/genpo-merzel-disrobes|access-date=February 18, 2011|newspaper=[[Tricycle: The Buddhist Review]]|date=February 7, 2011}}</ref><ref group=news>{{cite news|last=Limpt|first=Cokky van|title=Pleegde de zenmeester overspel of was het misbruik?|newspaper=[[Trouw]]|date=March 23, 2011}}</ref><ref group=web>{{Cite web |url=http://www.shambhalasun.com/news/?p=18782 |title=Buddhadharma, ''Dennis Genpo Merzel disrobes as a Zen priest (Updated)'' |access-date=June 13, 2011 |archive-date=March 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321171805/http://www.shambhalasun.com/news/?p=18782 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref group=news>[http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51270057-76/merzel-zen-center-buddhist.html.csp Peggy Fletches Stack, February 25, 2011, ''Utah Zen master admits affair, leaves center'', The Salt Lake Tribune]</ref>


Forty-four American Buddhist teachers wrote a letter<ref group=news>[http://www.tricycle.com/blog/sex-sangha-apparently-we-still-havent-had-enough Tricycle (February 20, 2011 ), ''Sex in the Sangha: Apparently, we still haven't had enough'']</ref> suggesting that Merzel take a minimum one-year break from teaching and seek therapy.<ref group=letters>[http://www.shambhalasun.com/news/?p=19005 Buddharma, ''Letter of “Recommendations for Genpo Merzel, the Kanzeon Zen Center Board” published; 44 Zen teachers sign / Update: Kanzeon Zen Center board responds'']</ref><ref group=letters>[http://www.openbuddha.com/2011/02/17/a-letter-from-kanzeon-zen-center-concerning-genpo-merzel/ ''A Letter from Kanzeon Zen Center Concerning Genpo Merzel'']</ref>
Forty-four American Buddhist teachers wrote a letter<ref group=news>[http://www.tricycle.com/blog/sex-sangha-apparently-we-still-havent-had-enough Tricycle (February 20, 2011 ), ''Sex in the Sangha: Apparently, we still haven't had enough'']</ref> suggesting that Merzel take a minimum one-year break from teaching and seek therapy.<ref group=letters>{{Cite web |url=http://www.shambhalasun.com/news/?p=19005 |title=Buddharma, ''Letter of "Recommendations for Genpo Merzel, the Kanzeon Zen Center Board" published; 44 Zen teachers sign / Update: Kanzeon Zen Center board responds'' |access-date=June 13, 2011 |archive-date=March 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321171811/http://www.shambhalasun.com/news/?p=19005 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref group=letters>{{Cite web |url=http://www.openbuddha.com/2011/02/17/a-letter-from-kanzeon-zen-center-concerning-genpo-merzel/ |title=''A Letter from Kanzeon Zen Center Concerning Genpo Merzel'' |access-date=April 3, 2014 |archive-date=June 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601085333/http://www.openbuddha.com/2011/02/17/a-letter-from-kanzeon-zen-center-concerning-genpo-merzel/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>


By April, Merzel had reversed his position, saying that too many students and his organizations depended on him financially and spiritually.<ref group=news name="sltrib.com">[http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51768224-78/merzel-zen-kanzeon-mind.html.csp?page=2 The Salt Lake Tribune, ''Zen teachers are livid Utah colleague in sex scandal still teaching]</ref>
By April, Merzel had reversed his position, saying that too many students and his organizations depended on him financially and spiritually.<ref group=news name="sltrib.com">[http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51768224-78/merzel-zen-kanzeon-mind.html.csp?page=2 The Salt Lake Tribune, ''Zen teachers are livid Utah colleague in sex scandal still teaching]</ref>


Sixty-six American Buddhist teachers responded with a public letter to Merzel requesting that he follow through with his stated intention to stop teaching for some time.<ref group=news name="sltrib.com" /><ref group=letters>{{Cite web |url=http://sweepingzen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Letter-to-Genpo-Merzel-from-66-teachers.pdf |title=Letter to Genpo Merzel from 66 teachers |access-date=June 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215003028/http://sweepingzen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Letter-to-Genpo-Merzel-from-66-teachers.pdf |archive-date=December 15, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref group=letters>[http://shambhalasun.com/news/?p=20366 Buddhadharma, ''Open letter to Dennis Genpo Merzel signed by sixty-six Zen teachers'']</ref> Merzel continued to lead retreats.<ref group=news name="sltrib.com"/><ref group=letters>{{Cite web |url=http://sweepingzen.com/response-from-kanzeon-zen-center-board-to-66-zen-teachers/ |title=Kanzeon Zen Center Board, ''Response from Kanzeon Zen Center Board to 66 Zen teachers'' |access-date=April 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329074940/http://sweepingzen.com/response-from-kanzeon-zen-center-board-to-66-zen-teachers/ |archive-date=March 29, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Sixty-six American Buddhist teachers responded with a public letter to Merzel requesting that he follow through with his stated intention to stop teaching for some time.<ref group=news name="sltrib.com" /><ref group=letters>{{Cite web |url=http://sweepingzen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Letter-to-Genpo-Merzel-from-66-teachers.pdf |title=Letter to Genpo Merzel from 66 teachers |access-date=June 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215003028/http://sweepingzen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Letter-to-Genpo-Merzel-from-66-teachers.pdf |archive-date=December 15, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref group=letters>{{Cite web |url=http://shambhalasun.com/news/?p=20366 |title=Buddhadharma, ''Open letter to Dennis Genpo Merzel signed by sixty-six Zen teachers'' |access-date=April 3, 2014 |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407065119/http://shambhalasun.com/news/?p=20366 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Merzel continued to lead retreats.<ref group=news name="sltrib.com"/><ref group=letters>{{Cite web |url=http://sweepingzen.com/response-from-kanzeon-zen-center-board-to-66-zen-teachers/ |title=Kanzeon Zen Center Board, ''Response from Kanzeon Zen Center Board to 66 Zen teachers'' |access-date=April 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329074940/http://sweepingzen.com/response-from-kanzeon-zen-center-board-to-66-zen-teachers/ |archive-date=March 29, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
It was reported that he and his wife were divorcing.<ref group=news name="sltrib.com"/>
It was reported that he and his wife were divorcing.<ref group=news name="sltrib.com"/>


Line 52: Line 52:


==Heirs==
==Heirs==
Dennis Merzel has given [[Dharma transmission]] to 23 heirs, and authorized 15 to teach as Zen Masters. He has given [[Jukai]] to 518 students and ordained 139 Priests.<ref group=web name=BigMind />
Dennis Merzel has given [[Dharma transmission]] (''[[shiho]]'') to twenty-three students heirs, and ''[[Inka shōmei|inka]]'' (final acknowledgement) to fifteen Zen-teachers. He has given [[Jukai]] to 518 students and ordained 139 priests.<ref group=web name=BigMind />


===Dharma successors===
===Dharma successors===
* [[Catherine Genno Pagès]] (1992), Dana Zen Center, Paris, France
* Catherine Genno Pagès (1992), Dana Zen Center, Paris, France
* [[John Shodo Flatt]] (1994, deceased), England
* John Shodo Flatt (1994, deceased), England
* [[Anton Tenkei Coppens]] (1996), Zen River, The Netherlands
* Anton Tenkei Coppens (1996), Zen River, The Netherlands
* [[Małgorzata Braunek|Malgosia Jiho Braunek]] (2003, deceased), Kandzeon Sangha, Warsaw, Poland
* [[Małgorzata Braunek|Malgosia Jiho Braunek]] (2003, deceased), Kandzeon Sangha, Warsaw, Poland
* [[Daniel Doen Silberberg]] (2003), Lost Coin Zen, San Francisco, USA
* Daniel Doen Silberberg (2003), Lost Coin Zen, San Francisco, US
* [[Nico Sojun Tydeman]] (2004), Zen Centrum Amsterdam
* Nico Sojun Tydeman (2004), Zen Centrum Amsterdam
* [[Nancy Genshin Gabrysch]] (2006), England
* Nancy Genshin Gabrysch (2006), England
* [[Diane Musho Hamilton]] (2006), Boulder Mountain Zendo, Utah, USA
* Diane Musho Hamilton (2006), Boulder Mountain Zendo, Utah, US
* [[Michael Zimmerman (jurist)|Michael Mugaku Zimmerman]] (2006), Boulder Mountain Zendo, Utah, USA
* [[Michael Zimmerman (jurist)|Michael Mugaku Zimmerman]] (2006), Boulder Mountain Zendo, Utah, US
* [[Rich Taido Christofferson]] (2007), Seattle, Washington, USA
* Rich Taido Christofferson (2007), Seattle, Washington, US
* [[Michel Genko Dubois]] (2007), L'Association Dana, France
* Michel Genko Dubois (2007), L'Association Dana, France
* [[Tamara Myoho Gabrysch]] (2008), Zen River, The Netherlands
* Tamara Myoho Gabrysch (2008), Zen River, The Netherlands
* [[Maurice Shonen Knegtel]] (2009), Izen, The Netherlands
* Maurice Shonen Knegtel (2009), Izen, The Netherlands
* [[KC Kyozen Sato]] (2009), Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
* KC Kyozen Sato (2009), Salt Lake City, Utah, US
* [[Judi Kanchi Warren]] (2010, deceased)
* Judi Kanchi Warren (2010, deceased)
* Mark Daitoku Esterman (2014), Salt Lake Zen Group, Utah, USA
* Mark Daitoku Esterman (2014), Salt Lake Zen Group, Utah, US
* Mary Ellen Seien Sloan (2017), Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
* Mary Ellen Seien Sloan (2017), Salt Lake City, Utah, US
*Christian Jikishin von Wolkahof (2018), Dusseldorf, Germany
*Christian Jikishin von Wolkahof (2018), Dusseldorf, Germany
*Lynn Shozen Holbrook (2019), Salt Lake City, Utah
*Lynn Shozen Holbrook (2019), Salt Lake City, Utah
*Stefan Kenjitsu Coppens (2019), Kanzeon Zen Centrum, The Netherlands
*Stefan Kenjitsu Coppens (2019), Kanzeon Zen Centrum, The Netherlands
*Krzysztof Furyu Leśniak (2019), Lublin, Poland
*Krzysztof Furyu Leśniak (2019), Lublin, Poland
*Hank Yoshin Malinowski (2019), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
*Hank Yoshin Malinowski (2019), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
*Jacqueline Shosui Wellenstein (2019), Voorburg, The Netherlands
*Jacqueline Shosui Wellenstein (2019), Voorburg, The Netherlands


===Inka transmission===
===Inka transmission===
⚫
* [[John Daido Loori]] (deceased), Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, US
Inka transmission conferring the title of Zen Master on fifteen Zen teachers:
⚫
* Catherine Genno Pages, Dana Zen Center, Paris, France
⚫
* [[John Daido Loori]] (deceased), Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, USA
⚫
* Anton Tenkei Coppens, Zen River, The Netherlands
⚫
* [[Catherine Genno Pages]], Dana Zen Center, Paris, France
⚫
* [[Charles Tenshin Fletcher]], Yokoji Zen Mountain Center, Idyllwild, California, US
⚫
* [[Anton Tenkei Coppens]], Zen River, The Netherlands
* [[Jan Chozen Bays]], Zen Community of Oregon, USA
* Nicolee Jikyo McMahon, Three Treasures Zen Community, San Diego County, California, US
⚫
* Susan Myoyu Anderson, Great Plains Zen Center, Wisconsin and Illinois, Great Wave Zen Sangha, Michigan, US
⚫
* [[Charles Tenshin Fletcher]], Yokoji Zen Mountain Center, Idyllwild, California, USA
⚫
* Sydney Musai Walters, Prajna Zendo, Lamy, New Mexico, US
* [[Nicolee Jikyo McMahon]], Three Treasures Zen Community, San Diego County, California, USA
⚫
* Malgosia Jiho Braunek (deceased), Kandzeon Sangha, Warsaw, Poland
⚫
* [[Susan Myoyu Anderson]], Great Plains Zen Center, Wisconsin and Illinois, Great Wave Zen Sangha, Michigan, USA
⚫
* [[Sydney Musai Walters]], Prajna Zendo, Lamy, New Mexico, USA
⚫
* [[Malgosia Jiho Braunek]] (deceased), Kandzeon Sangha, Warsaw, Poland
* Nancy Genshin Gabrysch, Kannon-ji Temple, Bilsborrow, England
* Nancy Genshin Gabrysch, Kannon-ji Temple, Bilsborrow, England
* [[Daniel Doen Silberberg]] (2003), Lost Coin Zen, San Francisco, USA
* Daniel Doen Silberberg (2003), Lost Coin Zen, San Francisco, US
*Maurice Shonen Knegtel, Izen, The Netherlands
* Maurice Shonen Knegtel, Izen, The Netherlands
*Tamara Myoho Gabrysch, Zen River, The Netherlands
* Tamara Myoho Gabrysch, Zen River, The Netherlands
*Nico Sojun Tydeman, Zen Centrum Amsterdam
* Nico Sojun Tydeman (2018), Zen Centrum Amsterdam
*Rein Konpo Kaales, White Cloud Zen, Idaho
* Rein Konpo Kaales, White Cloud Zen, Idaho


==Publications==
==Publications==
Line 138: Line 136:
==Sources==
==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{Citation | last =Borup | first =Jørn | year =2008 | title =Japanese Rinzai Zen Buddhism: Myōshinji, a Living Religion | publisher =Brill}}
* {{Citation | last =Borup | first =Jørn | year =2008 | title =Japanese Rinzai Zen Buddhism: Myōshinji, a Living Religion | publisher =Brill}}
* {{Citation | last =Buddhist Society | year =1988 | title =The Middle Way, Volumes 63-64}}
* {{Citation | last =Buddhist Society | year =1988 | title =The Middle Way, Volumes 63-64}}
* {{Citation | last1=Dōgen Zenji | last2 =Uchiyama | first2 =Kōshō | year=1983 | title=Refining your Life: from the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment | others=Translated by Thomas Wright & Kōshō Uchiyama | publisher =Weatherhill | isbn=978-0-8348-0179-0 }}
* {{Citation | last1=Dōgen Zenji | last2 =Uchiyama | first2 =Kōshō | year=1983 | title=Refining your Life: from the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment | others=Translated by Thomas Wright & Kōshō Uchiyama | publisher =Weatherhill | isbn=978-0-8348-0179-0 }}
Line 160: Line 158:
[[Category:American Zen Buddhist spiritual teachers]]
[[Category:American Zen Buddhist spiritual teachers]]
[[Category:Converts to Buddhism]]
[[Category:Converts to Buddhism]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:20th-century American Buddhists]]
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:Writers from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Writers from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:21st-century American Buddhists]]

Latest revision as of 20:39, 28 March 2024

Dennis Merzel
BornJune 3, 1944
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationUniversity of Southern California
OccupationAuthor
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Taizan Maezumi and Merzel

Dennis Merzel (born June 3, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American Zen and spirituality teacher, also known as Genpo Roshi.

Biography[edit]

Early life[edit]

Dennis Paul Merzel was born on June 3, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised and schooled in Long Beach, California. His family was Jewish (his grandfather was a Rabbi),[1] but he was raised as an agnostic by his father and as an atheist by his mother.[2] He was a champion swimmer and an all-American water polo player. He was a lifeguard and began teaching public school while obtaining a master's degree in educational administration from the University of Southern California.[web 1][news 1]

Zen Buddhism[edit]

While on a trip in 1971 to the Mojave Desert in California with two friends, Merzel had what he described as an "awakening experience".[web 2][web 3] Following this, he left his career as a school teacher for a year to live in the mountains alone in a cabin near San Luis Obispo. In 1972[web 2] he met the Japanese-born Zen teacher Taizan Maezumi, and moved to Los Angeles to study under him.[web 1][news 2][news 3] Merzel was ordained as an unsui, or novice priest, in 1973.[3] In 1980, a year after completing kōan study, Merzel received dharma transmission, becoming Maezumi's second Dharma successor.[3][web 2] In 1981 Merzel underwent zuise[note 1] in Japan,[3] and in 1988 he was officially installed as abbot of Hosshinji Zen temple in Bar Harbor, Maine.[web 4][note 2] In 1995 Merzel received the title of Dendō-kyōshi Kenshuso, a now defunct category officially recognizing Western Zen priests by the Sōtō School Headquarters in Japan (Sōtō-shū) .[web 5] In 1996 Merzel received Inka from Bernie Glassman,[3][web 2] after Maezumi's death in 1995.[web 4][note 3] This made Merzel Bernie Glassman's first Inka successor and made him the second in Maezumi Roshi's lineage to be recognized as a Zen Master.[web 2] Merzel is the founder[news 4] and former Abbot of Kanzeon Zen Center. [news 5]

Big Mind[edit]

In 1983 Merzel began studying Voice Dialogue—a Jungian therapeutic technique designed to expand the individual's ability to make choices in life rather than to behave in an automatic and unconscious fashion[web 8]—with Hal and Sidra Stone. Shortly thereafter, he began to experiment with integrating Voice Dialogue with the Zen tradition,[web 9] and in 1999 he introduced the Big Mind Process™.[web 4] The aim of the Big Mind Process is to combine "Eastern, Buddhist insights with Western psychoanalytical ideas,"[news 6][note 4][note 5] and according to Merzel:

It allows a person to step out of their ego and have a universal mind or mystical experience, to attain what is commonly called enlightenment, self realization, Christ mind, or Buddha mind.[web 9]

Merzel has organized Big Mind™ retreats and events nationally and internationally, such as an annual event in the Netherlands that has attracted hundreds of participants.[news 6] Responses to Big Mind have been variously negative[web 11][web 12] and positive.[web 13][note 6]

A randomized clinical trial of Merzel's Big Mind process has been carried out as part of a masters thesis "to test the hypothesis that a Zen training method using a self-based dialogue approach called Big Mind (Merzel, 2007) produces significant changes in subjective experience that are similar to the spiritual experiences of long-term meditators during deep meditation and, second, to examine whether the effect brings about any lasting positive psychological improvements in both spirituality and well-being measures."[6] The participants appeared to score higher on various measures after participation, but the reported effects may also result from factors such as group effect, suggestibility, and/or simple expectation,[6] and the study may have limited generalizability due to the high level of education of the participants.[6][note 7]

Resignation from White Plum[edit]

In 1988 Merzel was installed as abbot at Hosshinji, a Zen temple in Bar Harbor, Maine.[web 2][web 5][7] He was alleged to have had a romantic relationship with a student, leading to the dissolution of the temple.[web 5]

In August 1992, a group of 12 American Zen teachers sent a letter to Taizan Maezumi, expressing concern about Merzel's relationships with a number of female students, his lack of remorse, and his lack of responsibility. They asked Maezumi to withdraw Merzel's sanction to teach.[web 14]

In February 2011, after admitting to three extra-marital affairs, Merzel said he would disrobe as a Buddhist priest, resign as an elder of the White Plum Asanga, step down as Abbot of Kanzeon, and stop teaching for an indefinite period to seek counseling.[news 7][news 8][web 15][news 9]

Forty-four American Buddhist teachers wrote a letter[news 10] suggesting that Merzel take a minimum one-year break from teaching and seek therapy.[letters 1][letters 2]

By April, Merzel had reversed his position, saying that too many students and his organizations depended on him financially and spiritually.[news 11]

Sixty-six American Buddhist teachers responded with a public letter to Merzel requesting that he follow through with his stated intention to stop teaching for some time.[news 11][letters 3][letters 4] Merzel continued to lead retreats.[news 11][letters 5] It was reported that he and his wife were divorcing.[news 11]

He continues to serve as president and abbot of Kanzeon Zen Center, now called Big Heart Zen Sangha.[web 2]

Heirs[edit]

Dennis Merzel has given Dharma transmission (shiho) to twenty-three students heirs, and inka (final acknowledgement) to fifteen Zen-teachers. He has given Jukai to 518 students and ordained 139 priests.[web 2]

Dharma successors[edit]

  • Catherine Genno Pagès (1992), Dana Zen Center, Paris, France
  • John Shodo Flatt (1994, deceased), England
  • Anton Tenkei Coppens (1996), Zen River, The Netherlands
  • Malgosia Jiho Braunek (2003, deceased), Kandzeon Sangha, Warsaw, Poland
  • Daniel Doen Silberberg (2003), Lost Coin Zen, San Francisco, US
  • Nico Sojun Tydeman (2004), Zen Centrum Amsterdam
  • Nancy Genshin Gabrysch (2006), England
  • Diane Musho Hamilton (2006), Boulder Mountain Zendo, Utah, US
  • Michael Mugaku Zimmerman (2006), Boulder Mountain Zendo, Utah, US
  • Rich Taido Christofferson (2007), Seattle, Washington, US
  • Michel Genko Dubois (2007), L'Association Dana, France
  • Tamara Myoho Gabrysch (2008), Zen River, The Netherlands
  • Maurice Shonen Knegtel (2009), Izen, The Netherlands
  • KC Kyozen Sato (2009), Salt Lake City, Utah, US
  • Judi Kanchi Warren (2010, deceased)
  • Mark Daitoku Esterman (2014), Salt Lake Zen Group, Utah, US
  • Mary Ellen Seien Sloan (2017), Salt Lake City, Utah, US
  • Christian Jikishin von Wolkahof (2018), Dusseldorf, Germany
  • Lynn Shozen Holbrook (2019), Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Stefan Kenjitsu Coppens (2019), Kanzeon Zen Centrum, The Netherlands
  • Krzysztof Furyu Leśniak (2019), Lublin, Poland
  • Hank Yoshin Malinowski (2019), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  • Jacqueline Shosui Wellenstein (2019), Voorburg, The Netherlands

Inka transmission[edit]

  • John Daido Loori (deceased), Zen Mountain Monastery, New York, US
  • Catherine Genno Pages, Dana Zen Center, Paris, France
  • Anton Tenkei Coppens, Zen River, The Netherlands
  • Charles Tenshin Fletcher, Yokoji Zen Mountain Center, Idyllwild, California, US
  • Nicolee Jikyo McMahon, Three Treasures Zen Community, San Diego County, California, US
  • Susan Myoyu Anderson, Great Plains Zen Center, Wisconsin and Illinois, Great Wave Zen Sangha, Michigan, US
  • Sydney Musai Walters, Prajna Zendo, Lamy, New Mexico, US
  • Malgosia Jiho Braunek (deceased), Kandzeon Sangha, Warsaw, Poland
  • Nancy Genshin Gabrysch, Kannon-ji Temple, Bilsborrow, England
  • Daniel Doen Silberberg (2003), Lost Coin Zen, San Francisco, US
  • Maurice Shonen Knegtel, Izen, The Netherlands
  • Tamara Myoho Gabrysch, Zen River, The Netherlands
  • Nico Sojun Tydeman (2018), Zen Centrum Amsterdam
  • Rein Konpo Kaales, White Cloud Zen, Idaho

Publications[edit]

Books[edit]

  • The Eye Never Sleeps: Striking to the Heart of Zen (1991, Shambhala Publications)
  • Beyond Sanity and Madness the Way of Zen Master Dogen (1994, Tuttle Publishing)
  • 24/7 Dharma: Impermanence, No-Self, Nirvana (2001, Journey Editions)
  • The Path of the Human Being: Zen Teachings on the Bodhisattva Way (2005, Shambhala Publications)
  • Big Mind, Big Heart: Finding Your Way (2007, Big Mind Publishing)[news 12]
  • The Fool Who Thought He Was God (2013, Big Mind Publishing)
  • Spitting Out the Bones: A Zen Master's 45 Year Journey (2016, Big Mind Publishing)

DVDs[edit]

  • Big Mind Big Heart Revealed
  • The Path of the Human Being
  • Awakened by the 10,000 Dharmas
  • From Student to Master
  • Masculine and Feminine Energies
  • The Teachings of Bodhidharma

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Ceremonial "abbot-for-one-night" rituals at the head temples of the Soto school
  2. ^ A traditional ceremony of "entering the temple" which marks the end of the monastic training period and becoming part of the clergy.[4]
  3. ^ IntegralNaked: "Roshi Bernie had received Inka from Maezumi Roshi shortly before the latter's death in May of 1995."[web 4] SweepingZen: "In the Japanese Rinzai schools, inka is the equivalent of Sōtō Zen dharma transmission (shiho ceremony), and is the final level of empowerment as a teacher. In the Harada-Yasutani lineage, inka is one level of empowerment beyond dharma transmission."[web 6] Great Plains Zen Center: "This Inka ceremony grants final approval in our Rinzai lineage through Musa Koryu Roshi, another one of Maezumi Roshi's teachers."[web 7]
  4. ^ From the Big Mind website: "In 1999 he created the Big Mind Process™, also known as Big Mind/Big Heart, which philosopher Ken Wilber has called “arguably the most important and original discovery in the last two centuries of Buddhism.” It has broadened and enriched not only the teaching of Zen but spiritual practices in other traditions as well, enabling thousands of people from all walks of life and religious backgrounds to have an awakening with little or no prior consciousness study. It is being used in many fields, including psychotherapy, law, medicine, education, mediation, business, athletics, social work, family therapy, and work with prison inmates, hospital patients and the dying. Roshi continues to train people to bring the Big Mind process and Big Heart Zen out into the world, and remains deeply committed to their ongoing evolution."[web 2]
  5. ^ Japanese Soto Zen founder Dōgen Zenji uses the phrase in his Tenzo Kyōkun (Instructions to the Chief Cook);[5] as does 20th-century Zen master Shunryu Suzuki in talks collected in the book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind.[web 10]
  6. ^ Negative:
    * Brad Warner: "Big Mind™ is irresponsible and dangerous. But there is a lot of irresponsible and dangerous stuff going on in the world of this type of cheesy vaguely Eastern feel-good-now spirituality. The reason I have focused so much attention on Genpo Roshi’s rotten Big Mind™ scam is because it pretends to be related to Zen. Not only to Zen, but to the Soto tradition of Master Dogen. Genpo has even stolen Suzuki Roshi’s phrase “big mind” — first used in his book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind — and trademarked it for himself (SFZC really should make a legal complaint about that, since they own the copyright to Suzuki’s works). But Big Mind™ has nothing whatsoever in common with real Zen practice."[web 11]
    * Barbara O'Brien (2011): "What always (to me) made Big Mind™ sound hinky is that it is marketed as enlightenment on speed dial. By using Genpo's techniques, the pitch said, you could save yourself years of sitting zazen before realizing satori. Big Mind™ is taught mostly through seminars that charge a hefty enrollment fee, beginning at $150, which I'll come back to in a minute. I understand some people have paid as much as $50,000 for quickie enlightenment.[web 12]
    Positive:
    * Denis Hamill: "I approached "Big Mind, Big Heart" with a jaundiced eye, expecting snake oil. But I found it compelling and life-changing. I can't say that I have achieved "kensho." But I have reached a place where I no longer do a Ben Hur chariot race on the BQE after someone flips me the bird. I shout a lot less. I deal with envy and petty jealousies by embracing and owning the emotion and then transcending it.[web 13]
  7. ^ See also Linda Heuman, Meditation Nation, Tricycle April 25, 2014.

References[edit]

Book references[edit]

  1. ^ Stroud, Michael (January 2004). "Spirituality - Coming Home". Mindful. Shambhala Sun. Partial version on Lion's Roar
  2. ^ "Big Think Interview with Dennis Genpo Merzel Roshi". Big Think. August 3, 2009. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Ford 2006, p. 166.
  4. ^ Borup 2008, p. 180.
  5. ^ Dōgen Zenji & Uchiyama 1983, p. 18, 38.
  6. ^ a b c Johnson 2011.
  7. ^ Buddhist Society 1988, p. 252.

Web references[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Faculty Profile". Omega Institute. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Big Mind, Genpo Roshi". Archived from the original on June 21, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  3. ^ Big Mind: An Interview with Genpo Roshi Archived July 1, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b c d IntegralNaked, Who is Genpo Roshi?
  5. ^ a b c "SweepingZen, Merzel, Dennis Genpo". Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  6. ^ "Sweeping Zen, Taizan Maezumi Lineage Chart". Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  7. ^ Great Plains Zen center, Roshi receives Inka
  8. ^ Hal Stone PhD and Sidra Stone PhD, Voice Dialogue: An Introduction to the Use of Voice Dialogue
  9. ^ a b Genpo Roshi to Diane Olson Rutter, The Search for Big Mind On the Trail to Enlightenment
  10. ^ Brad Warner, Big Mind™ Sucks (Part A Million)
  11. ^ a b Brad Warner, Big Mind™ Sucks (Part A Million)
  12. ^ a b Barbara O'Brien, Another Zen Master Scandal, archived from the original on November 12, 2017, retrieved May 9, 2017
  13. ^ a b Denis Hamill, Peace of mind in Zen master Genpo Merzel's Big Mind
  14. ^ "SweepingZen, Open letters to Kanzeon Zen Center". Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
  15. ^ "Buddhadharma, Dennis Genpo Merzel disrobes as a Zen priest (Updated)". Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2011.

Newspapers and magazines references[edit]

  1. ^ Jarvik, Elaine (August 26, 2005). "The Zen of Sitting". Desert Morning News. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
  2. ^ "Sitting judge: Retired Utah chief justice finds his way as a Buddhist monk". Deseret News. April 24, 2004.
  3. ^ "Sensei Coppens: het grootste geschenk is de onbevreesdheid". Trouw. January 11, 1997. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  4. ^ Bloom, Anna (May 1, 2007). "How to bring Zen to the grocery store". Park Record.
  5. ^ Warburton, Nicole (January 3, 2009). "New year, New mind – Zen master helps others find enlightenment". Deseret News. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  6. ^ a b Limpt, Cokky van (January 22, 2010). "Verlichting voor westerse geesten". Trouw. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
  7. ^ Ryan, Philip (February 7, 2011). "Genpo Merzel disrobes". Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  8. ^ Limpt, Cokky van (March 23, 2011). "Pleegde de zenmeester overspel of was het misbruik?". Trouw.
  9. ^ Peggy Fletches Stack, February 25, 2011, Utah Zen master admits affair, leaves center, The Salt Lake Tribune
  10. ^ Tricycle (February 20, 2011 ), Sex in the Sangha: Apparently, we still haven't had enough
  11. ^ a b c d The Salt Lake Tribune, Zen teachers are livid Utah colleague in sex scandal still teaching
  12. ^ Hamill, Dennis (September 1, 2008). "Peace of mind in Zen master Gerpo Merzel's 'Big Mind'". Daily News (New York). Retrieved February 12, 2011.

Letters from Zen teachers[edit]

  1. ^ "Buddharma, Letter of "Recommendations for Genpo Merzel, the Kanzeon Zen Center Board" published; 44 Zen teachers sign / Update: Kanzeon Zen Center board responds". Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  2. ^ "A Letter from Kanzeon Zen Center Concerning Genpo Merzel". Archived from the original on June 1, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  3. ^ "Letter to Genpo Merzel from 66 teachers" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 15, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  4. ^ "Buddhadharma, Open letter to Dennis Genpo Merzel signed by sixty-six Zen teachers". Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  5. ^ "Kanzeon Zen Center Board, Response from Kanzeon Zen Center Board to 66 Zen teachers". Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2014.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

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