Dennis Merzel (Genpo Roshi) has been practicing and teaching Zen for more than fifty years. A dharma heir of Taizan Maezumi Roshi in the White Plum lineage and, creator of the Big Mind process, a method that brings together Zen practice and Western psychology to help people access insight and compassion more directly.

Through the Kanzeon/Big Mind community, Merzel leads retreats, workshops, and online programs accross the world. His teaching blends traditional Zen training—zazen, koan practice, and lineage rituals—with innovative approaches aimed at making awakening experiences more accessible to contemporary practitioners. He has written numerous books, including The Eye Never Sleeps, The Path of the Human Being, and Big Mind, Big Heart.

In 2011, Merzel publicly acknowledged misconduct in his personal relationships with students and stepped away from his role as a priest in the Zen tradition. Since then, he has continued his teaching in a lay capacity, focusing on increased transparency, integration of ethical commitments, and deepening the accessibility of Zen practice.

Today, he remains dedicated to sharing the Dharma in ways that support people’s personal and spiritual growth, while fostering communities rooted in compassion, clarity, and accountability.