Spring Sesshin 2023 (ONLINE)

A message from Susan Murphy Roshi about Sesshin

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Every  sesshin is special, but our Spring Sesshin this year (September 22-29)  will be particularly so, as it will be a Transmission Sesshin for Kynan  Sutherland, culminating on Saturday September 30 in the profound Zen  ceremony of Dharma Transmission that marks my formal recognition of his  full authorization as a dedicated Zen teacher in his own right.

The  apprenticeship stage of Kynan’s five-year walk towards this moment has  been a thoroughly joyous one:  I think it is by now plain to everyone  that Kynan is unmistakeably a true person of the Way – clear of eye,  warm of heart, with great powers of creative expression and insight into  Dharma that can meet and touch people just where they are, in the most  direct and human way.  As with a wedding, it is time to confirm and  formalise what is already long apparent!

And so  it is with pride and pleasure that we now start on the path with him of  preparing the way for the ceremony of ‘Transmission of the Dharma’.

A  Transmission Sesshin frequently has visiting teachers in the mix, and  certainly some will be present to witness and celebrate the ceremony  itself.  It is traditional to hear a number of voices offering the  Dharma in the dojo across the days – something of a dharma feast!

We plan to make this very special sesshin available in two different forms:

One will  be fully in person at Cloud Mountain (with a limit of 20 people and  observing close awareness of Covid policy), following traditional  sesshin form.

The  other will take place as an at-home sesshin, following the familiar  rhythms of online/offline sesshin, but this time in part-hybrid form.  That is, periods of online sitting will be possible throughout the day  in the Open Dojo, while morning Sutras, afternoon Encouragement Talks,  and evening Teisho and Evening Ceremony will all be ‘beamed’ into the  Open Dojo from Cloud Mountain.  We hope also to make dokusan  opportunities available to people at home at several points across the  days.

The  Transmission Ceremony itself will also be beamed online to at-home  sesshin participants and be opened up also to other ZOC and Castlemaine  sangha members who wish to witness the process — along with others in   closer proximity who may come as in-person guests from Sydney for the  day, along with Kynan’s family members coming from Castlemaine, to  witness and celebrate this momentous occasion in his life.

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with a bow

Susan Murphy Roshi