On April 15, 2024, I rescinded Michael Brunner’s Dharma Transmission (Shiho). He no longer has my permission or blessing to function as an empowered Zen teacher (Denbo) or an empowered Zen priest (Denkai).

Shortly after receiving Dharma transmission from me on Sept. 3, 2022, Michael left our Zen Center and went to focus on developing the One River Zen Center in Ottawa which he and his partner Vanessa Roddam co-founded together.

On March 20, 2024 it came to my attention that he had behaved inappropriately with a student in a way that was ethically egregious and a serious boundary violation. Since he was not open to working in a transparent way with those around him, I rescinded his Dharma Transmission and cut all formal ties with him.