Co-Leaders

 

Dorothy Charles has been a student and teacher at Esalen since 1982. A student of Esalen cofounder Dick Price, she combines Esalen body-centered Gestalt with relational Gestalt theory, and leads workshops in Asia, Europe, and the U.S

Kai & Kes Harper (ages 26 and 23 respectively), are native Big Sur locals and graduates of Esalen's Gazebo School and the University of California. They have spent their entire lives training their father Steve in the ways of innovative parenting and hiking.

Kenneth Harper is the father of Steven and grandfather of Kai and Kes. He has led a rich diverse life that has taken him from deep in Africa to public service in Washington D.C. to administration of universities. At 91 years of age he currently teaches dance, tai chi, and counseling in Arizona. Kenneth passed at 92.

Susan Harper teaches Continuum workshops in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan. She also offers Quest trips—for celebrating what is still wild, inside and out—in the wilderness and in Asia. For more information about Susan and her work click here.

Kokyo "Luminous Owl" Henkel was ordained as a priest by Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1994 and has practiced at Bukkokuji monastery in Japan and Green Gulch Farm. He is currently head teacher at the Santa Cruz Zen Center.

Leslie James is the Abiding Teacher at Tassajara and has practiced at San Francisco Zen Center since 1971. She received lay dharma transmission from Tenshin Reb Anderson in 2002. She has two grown children and a grandson, and lives at Tassajara with her husband.

Jeremy Levie began practicing at San Francisco Zen Center in 1994. He was ordained by Eujun Linda Cutts in 2005 and trained as shuso with her in 2009. He has practiced in residence at each of San Francisco Zen Center's three temples and currently lives at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center where he enjoys wandering the hills and serving as tanto (Head of Practice).

Meg Levie has lived and practiced at San Francisco Zen Center since 1994 and received priest ordination in 2003. She is exploring ways of bringing the insights of practice into the wider world, teaching mindfulness to people in corporations and to educators and completing certification in professional and life coaching. For more information about Meg click here.

Michael Newman is an attorney-mediator, surfer, and lifelong resident of the Big Sur coast. He has an MA in psychology and promotes the integration of wilderness into contemporary life.

Wendy Palmer developed Conscious Embodiment in 1980. She is a sixth degree Black Belt in Aikido and works with leaders on executive presence and cultivating center under stress. She has authored The Intuitive Body and The Practice of Freedom. For more information about Wendy and her work click here.

Christine Stewart Price is a teacher and ongoing student of Gestalt Awareness Practice and other approaches to developing awareness. For more information about Chris and her work click here.

Adam Rumack is the Executive Director of The Ojai Foundation, a trainer in The Way of Council, a youth rites-of-passage and wilderness guide, and a dedicated practioner and teacher of traditional ashtanga yoga. He incorporates the wisdom of these practices into his role as a leader and a steward of The Ojai Foundation’s work in Ojai and beyond.

Brother David Steindl-Rast is a Benedictine monk, psychologist, and author, he has lectured on five continents. He was Spiritual Teacher in Residence at Esalen, and is concerned with the unique challenges and opportunities of our time. He received the 1975 Martin Buber Award for his achievements in building bridges between religious traditions. At present, Brother David serves a worldwide Network for Grateful Living. For more information about Bro. David click here

Myogen Steve Stücky received dharma transmission from Sojun Mel Weitsman in 1993. He founded Dharma Eye Zen Center in Marin County and combines his work as a temple priest and parent with designing gardens. He is currently Central Abbot of Zen Center and has completed a program in advanced pastoral studies at Lloyd Center for Pastoral Counseling and in Internal Family Systems Therapy. Steve was one of the five people who met the fires at Tassajara last summer. For information about Tassajara and Steve click here.

Don Usner is a writer, photographer and New Mexico native who focuses on natural and cultural history. His books include The Natural History of Big Sur, Sabino’s Map: Life in Chimayo’s Old Plaza, and Valles Caldera: A Vision for New Mexico’s Newest National Preserve. For more information about Don click here.