David Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Has anyone read "Big Mind, Big Heart" by Zen Master Dennis Genpo Merzel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
October's Autumn Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Nope... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Genpo is quite a controversial figure in the world of zen. My own zen teacher sternly advised me to stay away from him, even though another friend who is a student of Genpo was offering to pay my way to do a retreat there. Apparently there is some sort of scandal in his past. Others are more charitable toward him, and I have no direct experience with him myself, or his techniques. The most frequent criticism I hear of him is that he appears to be selling a fast-food version of enlightenment, at pretty dear prices. There is a series of videos on YouTube that talk about his techniques which you might find interesting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT9y1YEUjy0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted March 21, 2009 Author Share Posted March 21, 2009 Thank you so much for providing this connection. I am a tech dinosaur. I do not watch YouTubes and I would have no idea how to provide the connection that you did so that people can watch these YouTubes. I still read books. So my first response is just a fascination with the technology that you have used to bring this to our attention. Thank you for doing that. I have always been fascinated with Zen since Alan Watts. But evidently it is much more serious for you. I do understand that he supports the “fast food” version for “waking up” and this troubles many who spend years in the process. Watts had a similar reputation. It is like the McDonalds for the masses. I am somewhat troubled by the fact that the YouTubes encourages even more of that desire to find out fast what a person is saying and then decide on just one French fry what the whole meal is like. So I would caution those who watch these YouTubes on that. Having said that it is possible that some will get a “taste” enough so they will actually read “Big Mind-Big Heart”. It is an easy read. I did it in one sitting. The other thing I like about what you have connected us with is that people will be able to see and hear Ken Wilbur who is very supportive of Genpo. I am very supportive of Ken Wilbur. Again realize that what you see on these YouTubes is just a taste and if you find that taste appealing you may want to explore more of Wilbur. I think both Genpo and Wilbur can relate well to Progressive Christianity. Wilbur has been included by TCPC in their library. Anyway if someone does read “Big Mind-Big Heart” let me know, I would like to discuss it here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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