Guy Mokuho Mercier
Guy Mercier was born in Paris in 1946 and practiced zazen for the first time with Master Deshimaru in 1973. He became his disciple in March 1976 when he asked him for the monk ordination.
Since then, he has actively participated in the life of the sangha, organizing the summer camps, taking responsibility for the kitchen (tenzo) in 1977 and 1978 at Val d’Isère, then helping set up the Gendronnière in 1979-80.
After Master Deshimaru’s death, he remained active in the Paris sangha. From 1986 to 1991, he was again tenzo at the Gendronnière, and became head of the temple from 1991 to 1997. While there, he oversaw major repair work to the paths and tracks at the temple and brought all the buildings up to European safety standards.
In September, 2008, he received Dharma transmission from Sojun Matsuno Roshi.
Today, he is the treasurer of the AZI and head of the Tours Dojo. He leads sesshins in France, Spain, Switzerland and England.
He started the Tenbôrin Association in 2004, which brings together the members of his sangha.