Dennis Merzel

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Dennis Merzel
Genpo Roshi Merzel Profile Picture
Born 3 June 1944
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Nationality American
Education University of Southern California
Occupation Author

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Taizan Maezumi and Merzel

Dennis Merzel is an American Zen and spirituality teacher, also known as Genpo Merzel Roshi.

Biography

Early life

Dennis Paul Merzel, known as Genpo Roshi, 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

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 formal 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

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:

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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] A randomized clinical trial of Merzel's Big Mind method showed statistically significant differences between the treatment and control groups for all parameters measured,[6] though Johnson notes that the reported effects may also result from factors such as group effect, suggestibility, and/or simple expectation,[7] and that the study may have limited generalizability due to the high level of education of the participants.[7][note 6]

Resignation from White Plum

In 1988 Merzel was installed as abbot at Hosshinji, a Zen temple in Bar Harbor, Maine.[web 2][web 5][8] 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 11]

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 12][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

Dennis Merzel has given Dharma transmission to 15 heirs, and authorized 9 to teach as Zen Masters. He has given Jukai to 518 students and ordained 137 Priests.[web 2]

Dharma successors

Inka transmission

Inka transmission conferring the title of Zen Master on nine Zen teachers:

Publications

Books

  • 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)

DVDs

  • 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

Notes

  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. ↑ See also Linda Heuman, Meditation Nation, Tricycle April 25, 2014.

References

Book references

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (the article on "Mindful"); partial version on Lion's Roar
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Ford 2006, p. 166.
  4. ↑ Borup 2008, p. 180.
  5. ↑ Dōgen Zenji.
  6. ↑ Johnson 2011.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Johnson 2011, p. 207.
  8. ↑ Buffhist Society 1988, p. 252.

Web references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Big Mind, Genpo Roshi
  3. ↑ Big Mind: An Interview with Genpo Roshi
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 IntegralNaked, Who is Genpo Roshi?
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 SweepingZen, Merzel, Dennis Genpo
  6. ↑ Sweeping Zen, Taizan Maezumi Lineage Chart
  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. ↑ 9.0 9.1 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. ↑ SweepingZen, Open letters to Kanzeon Zen Center
  12. ↑ Buddhadharma, Dennis Genpo Merzel disrobes as a Zen priest (Updated)

Newspapers and magazines references

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  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. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 The Salt Lake Tribune, Zen teachers are livid Utah colleague in sex scandal stiil teaching
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Letters from Zen teachers

  1. ↑ Buddharma, Letter of “Recommendations for Genpo Merzel, the Kanzeon Zen Center Board” published; 44 Zen teachers sign / Update: Kanzeon Zen Center board responds
  2. ↑ A Letter from Kanzeon Zen Center Concerning Genpo Merzel
  3. ↑ Letter to Genpo Merzel from 66 teachers
  4. ↑ Buddhadharma, Open letter to Dennis Genpo Merzel signed by sixty-six Zen teachers
  5. ↑ Kanzeon Zen Center Board, Response from Kanzeon Zen Center Board to 66 Zen teachers

Sources

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External links

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