What is Big Mind?

The Big Mind process was developed by Zen Master Dennis Genpo Merzel after thirty years of formal Zen training and twenty-five years of Zen teaching. The technique comes out of both the Western psychological tradition and the Eastern Zen tradition, a philosophy of self-realisation and actualisation. The Big Mind technique is a very simple, yet powerful and rapid way to help a person shift perspective and realise the wisdom that may take a meditator many years to accomplish.

The Big Mind technique can work for any Westerner who is open to the process. This method can be used working with oneself to resolve problematic perspectives or behaviours that have been resistant to change, enabling people to take greater responsibility for their lives and their choices. It also serves to increase wisdom and compassion, and the capacity to identify with all sentient beings.

The Big Mind technique can also support having access to non-egoistic perspective at will in daily life, and to function freely in ordinary life with greater presence and less ego-attachment.

Big Mind Workshop Objectives

• Introduction to Big Mind as a method for increasing awareness and enhancing meditation

• Expand awareness of the self, including recognising and appreciating the gifts of its different aspects

• Glimpse Big Mind – opening to aspects of self beyond the personal

• Integration of personal and transpersonal awareness into everyday free-functioning

Facilitator

The Big Mind Big Heart Workshop is facilitated by Philip Oude-Vrielink. Philip is a student of Zen Master Dennis Genpo Merzel, and is committed to bringing the Big Mind method to Australia and New Zealand. He has been running workshops throughout this region for the past four years. Philip is passionate about helping people know who they are and why they are here; to be fully functioning human beings capable of acting as true wisdom and compassion; to receive and integrate the gifts of the different aspects of self, including self beyond the personal; and to do so with clarity, dignity and fun. He is also a yoga teacher and wellness educator.

Ongoing Practice

After experiencing shift in perspective, an ongoing practice of meditation, or zazen, can support to deepen the realisation you may have during the workshop.