Big Mind - Big Heart: Finding Your Way (Paperback)

by Dennis Genpo Merzel (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book presents a highly original and accessible pathway to self-discovery and personal liberation. Since 1999 the Big Mind process has been experienced by many thousands of people in seminars across America. Big Mind employs a Jungian voice dialogue technique that enables people to step out of limited self-concepts into awareness of their many different sub-selves (emotions/mental states). In addition to exploration of the more familiar sub-voices like anger and fear, author Zen Master Dennis Genpo Merzel uses this technique to help people access the ever-present Big Mind/Big Heart awareness - the clear, "just being" awareness and the unconditional compassion that we all can experience. The Big Mind process is now available in book form to bring readers of all backgrounds many benefits including: access to our innate wisdom, compassion and equanimity; openness of mind and ability to shift perspectives; greater presence and empowerment; and appreciation for the wisdom within all of our many sub-selves even ones we tend to dislike or disown, like fear and anger.

About the Author
Dennis Genpo Merzel trained under Zen Master Taizan Maezumi becoming a Zen teacher in 1980. He is one of a small group of Westerners recognized in both the Soto and Rinzai Zen traditions. In 1999, Genpo Roshi combined western psychology and Zen to create Big Mind, a self-discovery process that's been presented to thousands of people across America.

Product Details

• Paperback: 189 pages
• Publisher: Big Mind Publishing (September 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977142337
• ISBN-13: 978-0977142330
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,408 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Embracing Our True Nature, October 15, 2007

By	Robin L. Athey (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Western culture teaches us to focus on the good. This can offer merit. When we see the good in ourselves and others, we can create feelings of well-being. Yet, always lurking in the shadows are darker sides of our human nature. Seeing our shadow sides can create feelings of guilt and shame - a sense that we're not o.k. So we run and hide from them. When our shadows are particularly scary or deeply embedded, we may not even see them. When we repress the darker aspects of our nature, we carry a weight that limits our growth. Our shadows still emerge, but in covert ways that can damage our self and others. Conversely, allowing ourselves to embrace all aspects of our true nature can be immensely liberating. For it is only by bringing all aspects of ourselves into consciousnesss that we can truly awaken.

In Big Mind, Big Heart, Genpo Roshi offers us a wonderful gift. By knitting together the ancient wisdom of Zen with the more recent wisdom of Western psychology, he has created a technology accessible to anyone ready to face the challenges of inner work.

As a Research Director for one of the world's largest professional services firms, I find Genpo's work to be among the most important I have encountered across a wide terrain of material on learning and growth. I find it incredibly useful as I continue to develop my own self-awareness. I believe his work carries tremendous possibility for organizations, too - particularly in the domain of leadership development, where a shift in consciousness is of dire need.

We are at an inflection point in society and organizations where "how" we learn is every bit as important as "what" we learn. By seeing our dualistic nature (on the longer path of non-dualism) we can release our clinging to conditioned patterns, limiting ideas, and damaging behaviors - and open to new ways of being, multiple perspectives, and wise action. Thank you, Genpo, for offering us your wise and compassionate guidance for that journey.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heck of a good book., October 2, 2007

By	JB Lambson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's been awhile since I read a "spiritual" book but I remember the drill. Ancient platitudes about life and morality, blah, blah, blah. It's all very nice but kind of boring.

Boy was this a surprise! Through a very interesting and entertaining process, I learned a ton about who I am both psychologically and spiritually, and it didn't make me want to run around in a monks robe and shave my head. This zen stuff is actually quite down to earth in a very profound and personal way. If this is what zen masters are teaching, I wish I would have checked it out along time ago.

Big Mind - Big Heart: Finding Your Way

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What an eye opener!!, October 23, 2007

By	Oscar Z. Gregory (Madliena, Malta.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This great handy book is so simple to follow. The path into your hearth/mind is opened up wide and clear infront of your eyes. All you need to do is to take the first step to follow the basic instructions and keep on going one step after the other. Then for sure it will lead you to a glimpse into the real nature of your soul, as it did me several times.
I have been practicing meditation for 20 years and I have found this book revealing and cutting straight to the heart.
The basic techniques used by the Zen Master Genpo Merzel are Voice Dialogue and Meditation both of which are effortlessly explained in an easily understandable manner even for the very basic beginner.
A great and wonderful read challenging in its direct and vivid simplicity.