Ordinary Mind
Zendo Europe

Charlotte Joko Beck and her Dharma Successors have established the Ordinary Mind Zen School, whose purpose is set forth in the following statement

The Ordinary Mind Zen School intends to manifest and support practice of the Awakened Way, as expressed in the teaching of Charlotte Joko Beck. The School is composed of Charlotte Joko Beck, her Dharma Successors, and teachers and successors they, as individuals, have formally authorized. There is no affiliation with other Zen groups or religious denominations; however, membership in this school does not preclude individual affiliation with other groups. Within the school there is no hierarchy of Dharma Successors.

The Awakened Way is universal; the medium and methods of realization vary according to circumstances. Each Dharma Successor in the School may apply diverse practice approaches and determine the structure of any organization that s/he may develop to facilitate practice.

The Successors acknowledge that they are ongoing students, and that the quality of their teaching derives from the quality of their practice. As ongoing students, teachers are committed to the openness and fluidity of practice, wherein the wisdom of the absolute may be manifested in /as our life. An important function of this School is the ongoing examination and development of effective teaching approaches to insure comprehensive practice in all aspects of living.

May the practice of this School manifest wisdom and compassion, benefitting all beings.

December 25, 1995

Guiding teacher

Karen Terzano (b. 1950) is a Zen teacher in the Ordinary Mind School, the tradition founded by Charlotte Joko Beck. She began Zen practice in the late 1980s and studied with teachers in both Korean and Japanese Zen lineages before becoming a student of Barry Magid, from whom she received permission to teach in 2011 and dharma transmission in 2014. She worked for many years as a research psychologist, university professor, and practicing psychotherapist, holding doctorates in both physiological comparative psychology and clinical psychology. She lives in Lammi, Finland, and works quietly with students in several countries, guiding the Tavallinen Mieli (Ordinary Mind) sanghas in Finland, Germany, and Sweden.

Karen would be happy to answer practice related questions and may be contacted directly at karenterzano(at)gmail.com

Denbo

Denbo is the term used in Ordinary Mind to refer to Dharma transmission. It is the recognition of profound insight into the fundamental teachings of Zen, in harmony with one’s own teacher. Denbo is a public acknowledgment by the teacher that the student is capable of taking on responsibility not only for themselves, but also for others. Those who have received Denbo are independent teachers who can work either independently or in collaboration with other teachers, and they have the authority to pass on Denbo to their own successors.

Denkai

Denkai is a recognition of the recipients efforts over many years of both strong individual and group practice. Denkai recipients have a good grasp of Buddhist principles and have demonstrated commitment by taking on sustained responsibility to support others in their practice. It can be considered a trial period for those few individuals who are called to try out formal teaching. During this trial period, the recipients have permission to try teaching without having to get approval for form or topic. Those who have received Denkai can teach, but this is done under the responsibility and supervision of the guiding teacher. Denkai recipients may not transmit their own successors.

Denkai recipients

Joakim Rzepka-Wejaker is an Ordinary Mind teacher based in Järbo, Sweden. He lives there with his wife and two cats. His way into Zen began through many years of struggling with addiction and eventually finding recovery through the Twelve Steps.

Joakim first began practicing within a Christian Catholic tradition. After living at a Christian retreat center and engaging in full-time practice, he began practicing with Karen Terzano and the Ordinary Mind tradition in 2015. Joakim considers himself grounded in the Buddhist tradition today. His teaching draws from Catholic Christianity, Buddhism, and the Twelve Step program. Joakim works as a counsellor in the field of addiction.

Ismo Puhakka began formal Zen practice in 2009 at the Shinnyo-ji Sōtō Temple under the guidance of Iten Shinnyo Roshi, and received jukai in Italy in 2010. After returning to Finland in 2011, Ismo continued searching for his own path until he became a student of Karen Terzano in 2012. He currently serves as the “Lammi Elf,” responsible for maintaining the association’s Zen center. Ismo received Denkai in October 2025.

Jani Henttonen is an Ordinary Mind teacher based in Helsinki, Finland.
Jani became Karen’s student in 2012, took jukai with her in 2014, became her jisha (attendant) in 2018, and received denkai (permission to teach) from her in 2023.

Jani enjoys hiking and has spent a lot of time trekking in the Nepal Himalayas. He has also thru-hiked The Appalachian Trail, Kungsleden and The Scottish National Trail. Currently Jani shares his time between Helsinki, where he lives, and in Tampere, where he works in his second-hand bookshop.

Magnus Norén is a father of three, licenced psychologist living in Falun, Dalarna Sweden. Magnus has practiced Zen Buddhism since the late nineties mainly in a Soto Zen sangha until he visited Barry Magid and found his way to Karen Terzano and her emerging sangha in northern Europe from 2013 and onward. He recieved denkai in October 2019 from Karen and has been given permission to teach. Magnus conducts zazenkai and sesshin where invited and is open to contact with practice related concerns at larsmagnusnoren@gmail.com

Timo Teräväinen recieved denkai in 2019. He no longer acts as a teacher with Ordinary Mind Zendo.