Big Mind Big Heart: Finding Your Way
by Dennis Genpo Merzel
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Book Reviews of Big Mind Big Heart: Finding Your Way
Book Review: A workable process
Summary: 5 Stars
Above all this book presents a process. A process for becoming more aware of aspects of oneself. The process is one of callling forth and giving voice to aspects of oneself (An approach going back at least to Fritz Perls and developed by Hal and Idra Stone with whom Genpo Roshi worked directly). By callling forth different aspects, in the sequence in which he does, he suceeds in calling forth aspects which transcend our normal view of ourselves: Aspects such as Big Mind and Big Heart, among others. These are aspects of ourselves which view existance in a non-dual way, beyond the duality of consciousness and the objects of consciousness. And finally he calls forth the voices of the individual human being who integrates all these aspects.
The method is obviously not traditional zen, but the realizations it facilitates purport to be the same as those to which one comes through more traditional methods.
The value of the book is in this: Just in the reading (or listening to) the process and doing it, by giving voice to these aspects in onself as they are called forth, one can indeed get a glimpse of these different viewpoints as aspects of oneself that are already there. By itself that is an important realization and provides a very usefull tool for further exploration. But as Gempo himself says, this glimpse needs to be deepened and stabilized by more work with the Big Mind process and also by more traditional work.
Book Review: A very present help
Summary: 5 Stars
I think this book should be on everyone's bookshelf, whatever our basic way of seeing our true path through our life may be - it goes to the heart of a dynamic intimate process of self-discovery, accessible and functional whatever sources we use to structure our life and vision of what life is about - whether we source from self-help, the way of the arts, psychology, spirituality or any specific religion, and whether our field of activity is sport, education, management, business, therapy, family, the arts - whatever. It is enabling, grounded in contemporary experience and very direct.
Here is a way to appreciate and enlist every aspect of my self, both light and dark, and integrate it all in the flow of my everyday life, but you'll have to make it your own. It really helps to experience the writer teaching on genpo.org.
Genpo Roshi's sources embrace ancient wisdoms of the East and Western wisdom in language that is immediate and contemporary. He engages the mind and touches the heart.
As a student of Genpo Merzel, I trained with him for many years. Now that I live across the ocean, I appreciate all the more his ability and skill in offering a map and a handbook of the way of the ordinary human being as honesty in self-discovery, as a path of compassion and kindness. The specific guidance in meditation and self-discovery this book offers is unique and workable.
Book Review: Not just Big Mind, but also what's next.. Big Heart..! (Read: Enlightenment.. Now manifest Compassion..!
Summary: 5 Stars
A truth-seeker myself and Zen-monk for most of my adult life, I found this book very interesting in the way that it gives me, as a western reader, the opportunity to reap the benefits of both Eastern Religion/Philosophy and Western Psychology, blended skillfully into the so-called Big Mind/Big heart Process, showing me "easy" access to non-dual concepts, like "Buddha", or "God", for this matter, that are given voice, in other words are owned that way, much faster than with traditional methods like meditation or devotional practice.
In my opinion, the "West", with all it's "High-wire" is craving for this kind of innovation, this kind of exciting, interactive and straightforward method, described here as a way of choosing to become a decent "Human Being", with all its flaws and shadows ,yet in touch with its boundless Nature..
Genpo Roshi is clearly a courageous Zen-master, I think, to write a book like this, presenting a revolutionary process for finding "One's Way" in life, in both Capital and in "Kitchen-sink" -sense, in a way that is appealing and suitable for "Westerners", like myself..
The book found its way to Holland ,where I live,(so please pardon my English..)and is already translated into Dutch and thus helps to raise the consciousness (and happiness,why not..) of the ever so stubborn Low-landers..Thank you, Genpo Roshi !
Book Review: Remarkable book!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my first on-line book review ever. I don't normally take the time, but this particular book is so important that it needs to be shared. It would appear at first to be a self help book, which it also is, but that is only a part of the import here. Through this Big Mind process one gains insight first into aspects of the small self and, ultimately, to perspectives that not only transcend the small self but include it - imagine that! To be exposed to different perspectives or "both sides of the coin", but able to operate from that place that transcends and includes both is life changing. The application to the individual is obvious but I believe in actuality goes far beyond the individual. This process can be used by multidisciplinary practitioners to enhance their specialties into more integral models of practice. Master teacher Dennis Genpo Merzel unfolds the process in such an enjoyable, accessible way that I do not think many will fail to see the creative applications that live in this process. Absorb the creative process in this book from the Master himself and apply it to your life, your relationships, your career and, most importantly, the world.Book Review: Not quite a book, but a process
Summary: 5 Stars
Over this past Christmas I recently finished Genpo Roshi's latest book, and I feel that this is his best so far. This has none of the obfuscation of other authors attempts to bring Zen to a western audience, with clear precise steps to experience what Roshi calls "Big Mind". It is somewhat reminiscent of Suzuki Roshis talks on Buddhist Big Mind, and it also reminds me of the process of the Est training, popular in the '70s. As with all new ideas, it is none of these, and seems to be a real way to bring grace into the human dimension. As you "interview" yourself in this book,it(for me) also seems to be a way to bypass the psychological scars that interfere with our experience of the present moment, allowing us to embrace, or at least glimpse, what Roshi calls the space of the "free functioning human being". There are also guidelines for deepening your awareness and meditation in the more traditional Buddhist sense as well. Anyone would benefit from this book, as it also goes beyond any tradition, bringing a real means for habits to dissolve, as well as increasing our awareness. I'm already re-reading it-