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Big Mind

People talk a lot about finding peace and contentment. But what does that really mean? And how do we actually achieve it amidst the daily chaos? This is where Big Mind comes in. Developed by Zen Master Dennis Genpo Merzel Roshi, this practice combines Western psychology with Zen Buddhist traditions. Big Mind offers a way to bridge the gap between our inner world and the often-overwhelming outside world.

What Is Big Mind?

Imagine your mind as a house. Inside this house live various “voices,” or aspects of yourself. There’s the Controller, always striving for order, the Seeker searching for meaning, and the Protector wary of threats. These voices often squabble, pulling you in different directions and leading to inner turmoil.

Big Mind, on the other hand, is like stepping outside this chaotic house altogether. It’s about accessing a state of awareness larger than any single voice, bigger than your individual ego. It’s a space of vastness, peace, and interconnectedness where you can observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment.

Think about those moments of awe and wonder you’ve felt. Perhaps gazing at a starry night sky, listening to a powerful piece of music, or witnessing a breathtaking natural phenomenon. In these instances, the usual chatter of the mind quiets down. You’re present, connected to something much larger than yourself. That’s a taste of Big Mind.

But Big Mind isn’t just a fleeting feeling. It’s a practice that, with time, allows you to integrate this spacious awareness into everyday life. Through specific techniques and guided meditations, you learn to recognize the different voices within you. This practice encourages you to accept the presence of those voices and ultimately access a wiser, more compassionate way of being.

Big Mind and Zen Tradition

While rooted in Zen Buddhism, Big Mind distinguishes itself in significant ways. It’s a decidedly Western approach, developed by Genpo Roshi in response to the growing interest in Buddhist practices. However, it also considers that those traditions aren’t always accessible or practical for Western audiences. Genpo Roshi draws a clear line stating that “Big Mind is Zen and beyond”.

Unlike traditional Zen, which often involves strict adherence to form and lineage, Big Mind is more flexible. It doesn’t require years of sitting meditation or immersion in monastic life. Big Mind is designed to be easily integrated into your existing life, whatever your background or beliefs.

Both paths emphasize the importance of self-discovery. But while Zen encourages silence and stillness, Big Mind allows for dialogue. In this process, you engage with the different parts of yourself, learning their motivations, fears, and desires.

This active engagement fosters greater self-awareness and acceptance, paving the way for profound transformation. Genpo Roshi explains this process:

It’s now almost twenty years since I first discovered Big Mind, and it’s evolved. In that evolution, what I’ve realized about the process and also about myself is that I seem to come up with things in intervals of decades. Around 2009, I realized that Big Mind was going to go in two directions – Big Mind and Zen tradition and Big Mind and Western psychotherapy. That’s different from Zen and Western psychotherapy.

He continues on about the Western evolution:

What I see is that, for one thing, I will probably be bringing back a lot of the Zen tradition over the next ten years. So it will be Big Mind again integrating the Zen tradition, now that I’ve spent about twenty years spitting out the bones of Japanese traditional Zen. The analogy I use is, particularly by 2011, I had emptied the house of everything, and the next ten years are going to be about bringing back in what’s necessary to bring back in, refurbishing or refinishing what needs to be refinished, buying new things that need to come in, and bringing back some of the old because they are worth keeping.

Big Mind acknowledges that enlightenment or awakening is not a destination but an ongoing journey. There will be moments of profound insight as well as times of confusion and frustration. What matters is bringing a quality of openness, curiosity, and compassion to the process.

Big Mind encourages individuals to actively explore and experiment to find what resonates most deeply with their being.

How the Big Mind Process Works

The cornerstone of the Big Mind process is a facilitated inquiry through voice dialogue. While typically led by a trained facilitator, such as a therapist or Big Mind teacher, you can try aspects of the process on your own to get a sense of its potential. At its heart, the Big Mind Process empowers you to separate from your ego-driven self and experience life from various awakened perspectives.

Here’s a simplified breakdown:

**Identify the Controller.** We all have this inner voice that wants to manage every situation, thought, and emotion. Recognizing its presence and even thanking it for its service is an important first step.
**Seek Out the Disowned Voices.** These are the aspects of ourselves that we reject, suppress, or deem unacceptable. This process isn’t about blaming ourselves but rather about acknowledging their existence with compassion. Once you’ve started identifying the various disowned voices, you bring them back into your psyche to give them their power back. These voices might be those of fear, shame, anger, or guilt.
**Engage with Awakened Perspectives.** You start by simply asking to speak to the “Awakened Mind” or “Big Heart.” It might sound strange, but as Genpo Roshi emphasizes, “By asking to speak to the awakened mind, or Big Mind, or the awakened heart or Big Heart, or pure awareness, by asking to speak to it, we are actually able to come from that place and experience what it’s like to be that mind.”

During Big Mind workshops, participants engage in this process through guided dialogues with each perspective. As the workshop progresses, it leads participants toward deeper states of consciousness, often culminating in a powerful and liberating experience of the “Apex.” Genpo Roshi defines this “Apex” state as the following:

I am the Apex. I am Big Heart, I am compassionate action. I am that which is beyond seeking and non-seeking, beyond the limited self and limitless Big Mind. As the Apex, I have complete freedom to seek or not to seek, I have a choice; I have flexibility. I can move freely between these two states of mind. From here I do not seek enlightenment, nor do I try to get rid of delusion. I do not try to put an end to thinking, and I do not favor not-thinking. I have no preference for one over the other. I am total freedom and complete peace of mind, functioning perfectly and harmoniously in every moment. I act from wisdom functioning as compassion. I am the True and Unique Self.

Although this type of profound work can bring up strong emotions, the supportive environment created by a skilled facilitator can make all the difference. As you practice and integrate the insights gleaned from Big Mind work, you start embodying the qualities of your True Self in your everyday life.

Benefits of Big Mind Practice

While awakening is a significant aspect, the benefits of Big Mind practice extend far beyond. As you delve deeper, you might notice a profound shift in the following:

**Greater Self-Awareness and Acceptance.** Instead of being controlled by reactive patterns and limiting beliefs, you become more aware of their presence. You cultivate self-compassion rather than self-criticism, fostering greater emotional intelligence and mental well-being.
**Increased Emotional Resilience.** Life will inevitably throw curveballs. Big Mind practice gives you the tools to face challenges with more stability and grace. Instead of getting swept away by negativity or overwhelm, you develop the inner strength and clarity to respond skillfully to difficult situations.
**Deeper Relationships.** When you experience the interconnectedness inherent in Big Mind, your relationships often transform. You see others with more understanding, empathy, and compassion, paving the way for more harmonious interactions and deeper connections.
**Enhanced Creativity and Purpose.** As the mental chatter subsides, there’s space for new ideas, perspectives, and solutions to emerge. This clarity of mind often sparks greater creativity in all areas, from work to personal pursuits.
**Lasting Peace and Contentment.** Ultimately, Big Mind points towards a sense of peace not dependent on external circumstances. You begin to experience more joy in the present moment, appreciating life’s simple pleasures while holding its complexities with more acceptance.

Experiencing Big Mind: Simple Techniques

While engaging in a formal workshop provides a structured and supportive environment to explore Big Mind, don’t hesitate to experiment with simple practices on your own:

**Mindfulness of Breath.** Find a comfortable position and bring your awareness to your breath. Observe the natural rhythm of your inhales and exhales without trying to change it. As thoughts arise — and they will — simply notice them gently and redirect your attention to your breath. Consider incorporating yoga nidra with it to encourage relaxation, clarity, and a calm mind. Yoga nidra, combined with breathwork, allows for you to explore your non-seeking mind, which is another key element of Big Mind and Zen meditation.
**The “How Big is this Mind” Inquiry.** Find a quiet space and bring to mind a situation that is currently challenging for you. Close your eyes and sit with the sensations for a few moments. Then, silently ask yourself, “How big is this mind?” See if you can feel a sense of expansion, noticing the thoughts and feelings present without getting lost in their story.
**Voice Dialogue Practice.** Identify a specific voice within you, perhaps one that tends to be particularly dominant. Take a few deep breaths and ask that voice to speak. Journal from its perspective, noticing the tone and language it uses. Avoid judging this voice. It is part of your internal system and has likely been trying to protect or support you in some way.
**Nature Meditation.** Spend some time in nature without distractions. As you wander, engage all of your senses. Feel the breeze on your skin, listen to the sounds around you, smell the earthy aromas, and observe the colors and shapes of the natural world. Let nature’s vastness remind you of the spaciousness within you. Sit on a sidra stone and practice om gam, the mantra of Ganesha. This is the perfect way to calm your mind.

FAQs About Big Mind

What is the meaning of Big Mind?

In the simplest terms, Big Mind refers to a state of awareness beyond our typical ego-driven perspective. It’s a way of tapping into a larger, more compassionate aspect of ourselves. Big Mind is about recognizing that we are not just our thoughts, feelings, or stories but part of a vast, interconnected web of being. The teachings of the Buddha, known as the Buddha mind, discuss these ideas.

What is the Big Mind technique?

The Big Mind technique isn’t so much a single technique as it is a process. It primarily utilizes facilitated voice dialogue to help us explore different aspects of ourselves — the Controller, the Seeker, the Protector, and many more — and through those explorations, we eventually come to a place of integration, often described as the Apex state of awareness. This practice often leads to greater self-awareness, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. It can even facilitate a sense of interconnectedness with all beings. Some may view it as a modern take on impure realities which is a teaching of the Hindu school of thought.

What is the Big Mind theory?

The Big Mind approach, rather than being theory-based, is rooted in the direct experience of awakened states. Instead of focusing on intellectual concepts, Big Mind practice uses various techniques like facilitated dialogues and mindfulness to guide you towards embodying these states in your own life.

What is the Big Mind in Buddhism?

Big Mind draws inspiration from Zen Buddhism, emphasizing the innate wisdom and compassion within us all, regardless of religious background. It diverges, however, in its accessibility and flexibility. Unlike the stricter forms often associated with traditional Zen, Big Mind doesn’t necessitate years of study or adherence to a lineage such as the Soto Zen tradition of Zen master Dogen. Big Mind is designed to meet you where you are, using Western psychological understanding as a bridge to access the transformative insights found within Buddhist teachings.

Conclusion

In a world saturated with information and distractions, Big Mind offers a path to reclaim your inner peace and clarity. While deeply rooted in Zen Buddhist traditions, it speaks to the modern seeker’s need for practical and accessible techniques. This approach emphasizes experiential learning and self-discovery, inviting you to engage with your inner landscape compassionately. Through this journey, you can experience life from a place of wholeness, interconnectedness, and unwavering presence. So, why not take a moment right now to ask yourself: How big is your mind?