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Living Zen with Genpo Roshi's Successor Teachers
Living Zen are special Zoom classes with Genpo Roshi's Successor Teachers, Mark Kanchi Esterman Roshi, Mary Ellen Jisho Sloan Roshi, and Alexandra Mushin Gericke Sensei, and Charlotte Jigen Juul Sensei in rotation.
It's a time to ask your Zen practice questions and share your experiences with everyone in the group. Each of Genpo Roshi's Successor Teachers has a wealth of experience and will offer their unique perspectives to help guide you on your Zen path.
Open to the Public for a $25.00 suggested donation.
These classes are included in all Student Path subscriptions. Students will receive notifications and Zoom links automatically via email and do not have to register.
The Three Poisons — The Hidden Gem of Suffering
Facilitated by
Mary Ellen Seien Roshi & Charlotte Jigen Sensei
Saturdays, June 14, 21 & 28
7:00 AM - 8:30 AM (Honolulu)
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM (Mountain)
Participant Capacity Reached
Click Join Waitlist in the lefthand sidebar to add your name should an opening become available
You may also email Chet to add your name to the waitlist
Suffering sucks! We don’t like it. And yet, although we know from the Buddha’s teaching that the key to joy and happiness is to not resist what is, but instead to face and embrace our suffering, the truth is we rarely do!
In these meetings, we will explore the various ways we react to our suffering, which can be boiled down to what is called the Three Poisons in Buddhism: greed, anger, and ignorance. However, as you will discover in these calls, when we work with and embrace these Poisons intimately, they transform into the hidden gems of liberation: compassion, clarity, and spaciousness.
We are very excited to introduce you to this work. As we have already been discussing in our Living-Zen calls, it has been at the core of our practice for the past several years, and we have found it to be extremely powerful.
This workshop is a general introduction to working with the poisons, as it takes one’s own practice and perseverance to experience the liberating power they hold.
Please email Chet Cannon for more information.
Sunday Public Meeting with
Genpo Roshi
Sunday, June 15, 2025
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM (Hawaii Time)
Sunday, June 22, 2025
5-Day Big Heart Retreat in Salt Lake City
July 8 - 13, 2025
Join Genpo Roshi for a transformative Big Heart Retreat in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Big Heart Retreat will take place at the lovely home of Paul Shinsho Thielking.
The Big Heart retreat will commence with dinner on the evening of July 8, and conclude after the morning/early afternoon session with Genpo Roshi on July 13.
Lodging, transportation and meals are left to be arranged by participants. For recommendations regarding planning your stay in Salt Lake City, please email Chet.
3-Day Big Mind Weekend Retreat
with Genpo Roshi
—
Gran Mente Gran Corazón
July 25 - 27, 2025
Vigo, Spain
Savia Yoga Integral
A Three-Day Transformational Retreat with
Zen Master Genpo Merzel Roshi
Join us for a three-day immersive retreat with internationally renowned Zen Master Genpo Merzel Roshi. This rare opportunity offers deep exploration into the Big Mind Big Heart process—a powerful method for expanding awareness and integrating disowned aspects of the self.
Rooted in traditional Zen practice and enriched by modern psychological insights, Genpo Roshi’s teachings provide a unique bridge between Eastern spirituality and Western psychology. Whether you are new to Zen or an experienced practitioner, this retreat offers profound insight, clarity, and personal transformation.
Retreat Schedule
Friday, July 25th
Saturday, July 26th
Sunday, July 27th
Throughout the retreat, Genpo Roshi will guide participants in discovering deeper self-awareness and breaking through personal limitations, helping them connect more fully with their own true nature.
Don’t miss this unique chance to study with a Zen master in a supportive and transformative environment!
Meditación en el siglo XXI
Taller de Big Mind Big Heart con Genpo Roshi
En este taller de un día con el Maestro Zen Genpo Roshi, los participantes provenientes de todo tipo de profesiones, tanto principiantes como experimentados, tendrán la oportunidad única de trabajar directamente con este gran maestro reconocido a nivel internacional, por su trayectoria de más de 40 años de vocación y dedicación.
En 1999, después de estudiar diálogo de voces con los Dres. Hal y Sidra Stone en los años 80, Genpo Roshi desarrolló el proceso Big Mind Big Heart, un proceso revolucionario que el gran escritor y filósofo Ken Wilber describió como “el descubrimiento más original e importante realizado en los últimos dos siglos dentro del ámbito del budismo.” Muchos psicoterapeutas, maestros espirituales, coaches, médicos, educadores y otros profesionales de distintas disciplinas, han encontrado en los efectos profundos de este proceso, una experiencia eficaz para alentar el despertar y la mejora de pautas inconscientes. El proceso Big Mind Big Heart ha ayudado a miles de personas de todo tipo de profesiones, de tradiciones espirituales y de enfoques filosóficos, a recobrar una vida de mayor consciencia, coherencia y propósito.
Dennis Paul Merzel, también conocido como Genpo Roshi, es un monje Zen, maestro en las escuelas Soto y Rinzai del Budismo Zen, reconocido a nivel internacional en el acompañamiento a los demás para aflorar la propia sabiduría innata y la compasión.
El proceso Big Mind Big Heart (Gran Mente Gran Corazón) es un proceso de autoinvestigación, directo y eficaz, destinado a abrir nuestros corazones y nuestra mente a la plenitud y riqueza de la vida. Se trata de una combinación de elementos, una creativa unión de psicología occidental y de las tradiciones no-duales de oriente. Este singular proceso ha sido desarrollado con el propósito de ayudarnos a una mejor comprensión de la mente y de la naturaleza de la vida humana.
El proceso Big Mind (Gran Mente) creado por el Maestro Zen Dennis Genpo Merzel es sin duda el descubrimiento más importante y original de los dos últimos siglos de Budismo. Se trata de una vía sorprendentemente original, profunda y eficaz para despertar o ver nuestra Naturaleza Verdadera. Se trata de una práctica tan sencilla y universal que puede ser utilizada por cualquier camino espiritual, o incluso por si misma, como práctica para realizar nuestro Verdadero Yo. Ken Wilber, autor de Espiritualidad Intengral Un auténtico regalo para la mayoría de occidentales que deseen despertar y vivir en el mundo con eficacia y compasión Maestro Zen Bernie Glassman, Ph.D., autor de Bearing Witness Un método muy novedoso para provocar transformaciones profundas que, de otro modo, requerirían de un esfuerzo arduo y prolongado. Roger Walls, Ph.D., autor de Essential Spirituality …Genpo Roshi nos brinda una herramienta extraordinaria derivada de la fusión de los caminos de iluminación orientales y occidentales. Me parece una herramienta muy valiosa y esclarecedora. Lama Suryas Das, autor de Awakening the Buddha Within:Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World
El proceso Big Mind (Gran Mente) creado por el Maestro Zen Dennis Genpo Merzel es sin duda el descubrimiento más importante y original de los dos últimos siglos de Budismo. Se trata de una vía sorprendentemente original, profunda y eficaz para despertar o ver nuestra Naturaleza Verdadera. Se trata de una práctica tan sencilla y universal que puede ser utilizada por cualquier camino espiritual, o incluso por si misma, como práctica para realizar nuestro Verdadero Yo.
Ken Wilber, autor de Espiritualidad Intengral
Un auténtico regalo para la mayoría de occidentales que deseen despertar y vivir en el mundo con eficacia y compasión
Maestro Zen Bernie Glassman, Ph.D., autor de Bearing Witness
Un método muy novedoso para provocar transformaciones profundas que, de otro modo, requerirían de un esfuerzo arduo y prolongado.
Roger Walls, Ph.D., autor de Essential Spirituality
…Genpo Roshi nos brinda una herramienta extraordinaria derivada de la fusión de los caminos de iluminación orientales y occidentales. Me parece una herramienta muy valiosa y esclarecedora.
Lama Suryas Das, autor de Awakening the Buddha Within:Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World
Big Mind and the Heart of Zen
An Evening with Genpo Roshi
August 5, 2025
Copenhagen, Denmark
We are thrilled to be hosting Zen master Genpo Roshi, originator of the Big Mind process at Rört.
Roshi will be giving an evening workshop on August 5th at 18.00-20.30. Roshi will support you on the spiritual path using the Big Mind process and will also teach the basics of Zen meditation.
The workshop will be informal and give you a rare opportunity to dialogue and meditate with one of the first westerners who received dharma transmission in the Japanese Zen tradition from the esteemed Maezumi Roshi. Genpo Roshi has more than 50+ years of experience teaching Zen in the west and has brought the teaching to several European countries and has published several books on Zen buddhist practice and Big Mind. You need no knowledge of meditation, Buddhism or Japanese Zen to benefit for this workshop. Roshi speaks a clear and articulate English.
Dates: August 5
Time: 18:00 - 20:30
Price: 340DKR (15% discount for Rört Members)
Registration: Email hello@rort.dk to register.
2-Evenings with
August 6 & 7, 2025
On Wednesday evening, August 6th, Genpo Roshi will facilitate Big Mind. On Thursday evening, August 7th, he will meditate with the participants, answer questions and speak generally about Zen wisdom, including the use of koans to cut through all concepts and notions and reach a direct realization of one’s true nature.
It is recommended to attend both evenings, but you can also book them separately.
Dates: August 6 & 7
Time: 19:30 - 21:30
Price: 340 DKR per evening
Early Bird Bookings: 260 DKR per evening (before June 1).
Registration: Please email info@quantumseminars.dk to register
3-Day Big Mind Weekend with
August 8 - 10, 2025
This weekend will give you a living introduction to Zen practice through meditation, Big Mind and dialogue with Genpo Roshi. Using the Big mind process, Roshi will support you in deepening your spiritual practice through working with shadows to uncover their hidden wisdom and compassion. Doing work with Roshi in person is a deeply transformative experience that can help you clarify your path in life and move through difficult times with grace and strength. The workshop takes place in an informal atmosphere, giving you plenty of opportunity to ask questions and receive personal instruction from a living Zen master.
···
The Big Mind Process takes place as a structured dialogue, inviting you to tap into the wisdom within you. It was invented and developed in the 1990's by Genpo Roshi as part of Zen practice. Big Mind integrates the wisdom of eastern spiritual traditions with relational perspectives from western psychotherapy, helping practitioners work on shadows or disowned parts of the self that often hold hidden gold.
Big Mind is used worldwide today across spiritual, therapeutic and organisational contexts. Guided as an open-ended interview with the group, Genpo Roshi helps participants explore different parts or “voices" working within us. Each voice is viewed as having its own inherent wisdom worthy of full expression. We will be speaking in the first person as each voice rather than speaking about it or reflecting on it. This change of perspective invites a spirit of inquiry towards whatever an inner voice may want to say and allows you to get a different perspective on problems you encounter in your life and practice. You need no prior knowledge of meditation, zen, buddhism, psychology or spirituality to participate.
Schedule:
Friday, August 8
Saturday, August 9
Sunday, August 10
Price*:
Early bird: Booking before May 1: 1950 DKR / 270 USD
Standard: Bookings after May 1: 2599 / 360 USD
Single sessions are not available for individual booking. Please note that all ticket purchases are non-refundable.
Transport:
Airport: Copenhagen (CPH) Metro: take the M4 line to København Syd (Copenhagen South) and get of at Sluseholmen. From the metro station it’s a 10-minute walk. Bus Options: Option 1: Take Bus number 17 towards Sjælør and get of at Ernie Wilkins vej. Option 2: Take Bus number 17 towards København Syd and get of at Thad Jones Vej. Option 3: Take Bus 8A towards Valby st. and get of at “Ved Slusen”. From the bus stops it’s 10 min. Walk to Oscar pettifords vej. Use www.rejseplanen.dk to plan your travel Car: If you are arriving by car, find public parking on Ben Websters Vej (pay with the easy Park app) or bring cash to buy a 48-hour parking permit from Myoin for 40DKR, allowing you to park right in front of the building.
Airport: Copenhagen (CPH)
Metro: take the M4 line to København Syd (Copenhagen South) and get of at Sluseholmen. From the metro station it’s a 10-minute walk.
Bus Options:
Option 1: Take Bus number 17 towards Sjælør and get of at Ernie Wilkins vej.
Option 2: Take Bus number 17 towards København Syd and get of at Thad Jones Vej.
Option 3: Take Bus 8A towards Valby st. and get of at “Ved Slusen”.
From the bus stops it’s 10 min. Walk to Oscar pettifords vej.
Use www.rejseplanen.dk to plan your travel
Car: If you are arriving by car, find public parking on Ben Websters Vej (pay with the easy Park app) or bring cash to buy a 48-hour parking permit from Myoin for 40DKR, allowing you to park right in front of the building.
Accomodation:
Sluseholmen is a charming area near the waterfront and only 5 minutes by Metro from the city center. The local area has lots of rooms and apartments for rent in the summer period (see examples here). You can contact Myoin if you have questions about travel or accommodations.
Food:
We offer coffee, tea and a light afternoon snack as part of the workshop. There are several cafes and supermarkets within walking distance of the venue.
Evening Talk with Genpo Roshi
Monday, August 18, 2025
Ghent, Belgium
Join us for a special evening with Genpo Roshi during his visit to Ghent, where he will be spending time with his Dharma successor, Alexandra Mushin Sensei.
Roshi will offer a public talk on the evening of August 18, sharing insights from his decades of Zen teaching and practice.
Registration Not Required
Donation: 30€
Cash donations gratefully accepted at the door. Donation by bank transfer or PayPal, please visit No Mind Zendo.
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Genpo Roshi's visit will be held during
sesshin led by Mushin Sensei. Perhaps you wish to deepen your practice with the wider Sangha during this special time.
August City Sesshin in Ghent
Friday, August 15 - Tuesday, August 19
(Starts Friday at 14:00 till Tuesday after lunch)
Zen Sangha, Elyzeese Velden 10
Monday - Public Talk with Genpo Roshi
Tuesday - Jukai Ceremony with Mushin Sensei
More info and sesshin registration, please email Alexandra Mushin Sensei, or visit www.nomindzen.org.
3-Day Big Heart Retreat with Genpo Roshi
August 20 - 22, 2025
Amsterdam Zen Center
For nearly 15 years, the Big Heart Retreats have been a profound way to support the mission of Kanzeon Big Mind. Your generous donation is supporting our mission to awaken and liberate all sentient beings from fear, confusion and ignorance. As we manifest generosity, our understanding deepens and is expressed through wisdom and compassion.
At Kanzeon Big Mind Zen, our mission is to fuse the ancient Eastern wisdom of Zen with a modern understanding of Western psychology, igniting personal transformation and awakening global consciousness to the oneness of life. This work is only possible because of the generous financial contributions of donors like you.
Dates: Wednesday - Friday, August 20 - 22
Location: Amsterdam Zen Center
Binnenkant 39, 1011 BM Amsterdam, Netherlands
Attendance Limited to 7 Participants
2-Day Big Mind Workshop
August 23 & 24, 2025
Attending this Big Mind workshop with Genpo Roshi is an opportunity to explore a unique approach to self-inquiry with a Zen master who has spent over five decades developing this method.
Whether you have years of meditation experience, a background in Zen practice, or are new to this kind of exploration, the workshop offers a chance to gain fresh insights into your way of seeing and being. In a supportive and reflective setting, you may come away with greater clarity, a more open perspective, and a deeper understanding of yourself.
If you are interested in stepping beyond familiar patterns and exploring a different way of looking at things, this workshop may be of value to you.
Dates: Saturday & Sunday, August 23 - 24
Daily Schedule: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM & 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Attendance Limited to 45 Participants Maximum
5-Day Sesshin
Only Buddha Recognizes Buddha
August 25 - 29, 2025
Only a Buddha can know a Buddha. Just as only a fish knows the heart of a fish and only a bird follows a bird's trace, no one but a Buddha can discern the heart of a Buddha. Only a Buddha can transmit to a Buddha, as only a Buddha can receive from a Buddha. Ordinary people cannot know the heart of a Buddha, just as humans cannot know the hearts of either fish or birds. If you want to be completely free and at peace, you must fully clarify this point. A Buddha cannot transmit the Dharma to an ordinary person, just as an ordinary person is not ready to receive the transmission from a Buddha. Until you have realized your own unborn Buddha-mind and the Buddha-mind of all ancestors, you will not be an empty vessel. Few really understand this principle. Those who do are indeed rare. — Genpo Roshi "Beyond Sanity & Madness"
Only a Buddha can know a Buddha. Just as only a fish knows the heart of a fish and only a bird follows a bird's trace, no one but a Buddha can discern the heart of a Buddha. Only a Buddha can transmit to a Buddha, as only a Buddha can receive from a Buddha. Ordinary people cannot know the heart of a Buddha, just as humans cannot know the hearts of either fish or birds. If you want to be completely free and at peace, you must fully clarify this point. A Buddha cannot transmit the Dharma to an ordinary person, just as an ordinary person is not ready to receive the transmission from a Buddha. Until you have realized your own unborn Buddha-mind and the Buddha-mind of all ancestors, you will not be an empty vessel. Few really understand this principle. Those who do are indeed rare.
— Genpo Roshi
"Beyond Sanity & Madness"
Schedule: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Daily. Lunch included.
Western Zen Path Participants please email Chet to reserve and confirm your space.
Limited Attendance - 45 Max Participants
3-Day Retreat · Big Mind with Genpo Roshi
September 5 - 7, 2025
Salt Lake City
Please joins us for a special 3-day retreat in Salt Lake City. This retreat will feature three and a half hour daily sessions with Genpo Roshi including morning and afternoon sitting meditation.
This retreat will be limited to 15 individuals
Light refreshments and coffee will be provided in the morning and between breaks. Participants will be responsible for their meals and accommodations. For lodging recommendations please email Chet.
Proposed Daily Schedule (subject to change):
Morning Sitting: 8:00am - 9:00 am
Breakfast Break: 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Session with Roshi: 10:00 am - 1:30 pm
Lunch Break: 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Afternoon Sitting: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
The Four Benevolent Ways of the Bodhisattva: Rohatsu Retreat
December 1 - 8, 2025
Oregon, In-Person Retreat
This in-person retreat is the last of the three retreats for participants of the Western Zen Path.
This retreat is also open to the public.
More information coming soon!
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