Spring Mind Retreat 2026
A two day non-residential retreat in Fryerstown, Victoria
Changsha (788-868) went wandering in the hills. When he returned, he was asked by the head monk, “Where have you been wandering?”
Changsha said:
First I went out following the scented grasses;
Then I came back following the falling flowers.
The head monk replied:
That is spring mood itself.
So what is spring mood? And how might you settle, touch and convey its wisdom?
In this retreat, we will follow Changsha into the hills to explore the very mind of spring. With zazen (meditation), sutras (chanting), kinhin (walking meditation), teisho (dharma talk), and dokusan (dharma interviews), we will practice “spring mood itself” for each other and the many beings.
Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your Zen practice in the company of dear sangha friends and the budding beauty of Fryerstown’s box-ironbark forest.
Places are strictly limited so be sure to register early.
NB. You must be a member of Castlemaine Zen to attend this retreat. If you are not already a member, please visit the Membership Page.
Dates
Saturday October 17 — Sunday October 18
(Arrive by 8.45am and leave by 5.30pm each day)
Cost
Waged: $150
Unwaged: $100
Note that concession rates are available via request. If you are facing financial difficulties, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will do whatever we can to support your participation.
Schedule
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
8.45 Arrive / Tea
9.00 Sutras
9.30 Zazen
10.00 Encouragement Talk
10.30 Outside Kinhin
11.00 Zazen
11.30 Lunch
12.00 Rest Period
1.30 Zazen
2.00 Teisho
3.00 Zazen / Dokusan
3.30 Zazen / Dokusan
4.00 Zazen / Dokusan
4.30 Reading / Dokusan
5.00 Closing Ceremony
5.30 End
Our Teacher
Kynan Sutherland Roshi is a Zen Buddhist teacher based in Castlemaine, Victoria. He was authorised to teach by Susan Murphy Roshi in 2019 and received Dharma Transmission in 2023. Since then he has led events with Castlemaine Zen, Zen Open Circle, Mountains and Rivers Zen (Hobart) and The Melbourne Zen Group. He lives in Castlemaine and is Pastoral Care Coordinator at Dhelkaya Health (Castlemaine Hospital).
Dana
Dana is the ancient Buddhist practice of mutual support. It recognises that the dharma is freely offered by the teacher and sustained by those who value it. Kynan Sutherland Roshi offers himself wholeheartedly and you are invited to respond in kind. Kynan receives a small honorarium for his teaching at sesshin but relies on dana to support his work. There will be a dana bowl at sesshin for you to express your appreciation in cash, or you can contribute directly via EFT (bank details will be provided on confirmation of your place).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I attend if I’m a beginner?
This weekend retreat is ideally suited to those with some meditation experience. However, if you are new to Zen and want to jump in, we suggest that you contact us to arrange an orientation and we will help to get you settled.
What sort of orientation is offered?
You can request an orientation at one of our regular Sunday sits or visit our Orientation and Ritual and Form pages. Please email us if you’d like to arrange something.
Are my dietary requirements accommodated?
All food is vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free, with the option of adding gluten and dairy products to some meals. If you have any dietary requirements that are important to observe, please include them in your registration form. They will be factored into our shopping and preparation.
Is this a silent retreat?
Yes. The retreat is silent, but there will be periods of shared chanting, sutra reading, dharma talks and interviews with the teacher.
What do I wear?
Loose, dark (preferably black) clothing is recommended, free from distracting patterns or logos. There is heating in the dojo, but we recommend bringing several layers of clothing in case the weather gets cold.
What if I can’t make it for the whole retreat?
Priority will be given to full time participants. However, if you can only attend one day we will let you know if a space becomes available.
How many people can attend?
We are limited to 25 participants at the Fryerstown School, so please register early to secure your place.
What about sickness?
We will do our best to provide a full refund up to one week before the event. However, we cannot guarantee a full refund after that because your money will most likely have been spent. Great care is taken to shop and cater to everyone’s particular needs, so we will refund you as best we can if you get sick.