Dharma Transmission Ceremony
for Kynan Sutherland

From Susan Murphy Roshi:

It is a joy for me to let you know that on September 30, at the end of our 7-day Spring sesshin here at Cloud Mountain in Kangaroo Valley, I shall be giving Dharma Transmission to Kynan Sutherland.  

Kynan has studied with me for the last two decades, of which the last half decade has been spent toiling in the buddha-fields as apprentice teacher alongside me and under my supervision, in NSW, Victoria and and Tasmania. Kynan puts his heart and soul into the wonderful, terrible work, transforming lives around him.  

He has poured a tireless fund of energy and love of the Dharma into establishing the steadily growing and flourishing Castlemaine Zen sangha in Central Victoria, while also maintaining a weighty timetable of co-teaching with me and leadership within the Zen Open Circle sangha, contributing with both brilliance and complete humility in every possible way, whether in online contexts (especially through the Covid years) or at last once again in person. 

Kynan has, in truth, been fully fledged for a long time, seems never not to have been a true and natural person of the Way, is transparently clear of eye and heart while also being as earthy and direct as a paddock-full of clarifying light, probably one dotted with eucalypts and resting grey kangaroos... His dharma is generous in both humour and warmth, and enlarged by keen talent as artist and writer, and now by his work in hospital and hospice chaplaincy—work to which he brings the gifts and skills of a long Zen practice, and the soul of a poet.   

There are some things that can’t be too highly recommended.  The Dharma is one,  Kynan is another.  I have complete conviction in saying that we are all enlarged by this appointment.

Warmly, and with a bow and a very wide smile,
Susan Murphy Roshi