Murray Kennedy attended his first Enlightenment Intensive with Jeff Love in 1978. Near the end of the third day, he experienced a sudden awakening that transformed his life and gave him a profound sense of coming home. From that moment, he devoted himself fully to spiritual practice, exploring Intensives, yoga, Vipassana and Zen sesshins, as well as therapeutic psychology, in which he holds an MA.
In 1982, he trained as an Enlightenment Intensive Master and led his first Intensive. Since then, he has facilitated 100 Enlightenment Intensives and, for 31 years, has led a weekly Dyad Night for those who want to continue contemplation practice between Intensives.
He offers Intensives in alignment with the Sudden Awakening teachings of their creator, Charles Berner. He sees sudden awakenings as bringing exceptional depth and clarity to life and practice, while also recognizing the importance of gradual cultivation as a foundation for growth. His own path of lifelong practice, service, and study has been his way of putting down roots. Along the way, he has been supported by three teachers he deeply values: Ammachi, Roshi Sazaki, and AH Almaas. From Almaas, who represents the Gradual Awakening side, he gained a broader perspective that continues to shape the way he teaches toward Sudden Awakening.
Because the method itself is highly structured, Murray brings an informal and approachable style to his teaching. He uses humor, tells stories, and relates easily to people, while remaining fully sincere and committed to the work. Over the years, he has seen it bring fulfillment, joy, healing, and the glory of awakening to many people. He regards it as an ongoing miracle and feels privileged to share it with others.
On a personal note, Murray and his wife have three grown children and one grandchild. They live in North Vancouver, BC.