Leadership

Teachers

Deborah Barrett

Deborah is a minister and teacher at ZCOC. She has been a serious meditation practitioner for over 40 years. Deborah has a Ph.D. in psychology and an M.A. in theology. She has a law degree (Juris Doctor) from DePaul University. She is currently Conservator and Care Manager for a special needs friend.

Deborah was a counselor and therapist in private practice for 25 years. She is recently retired from counseling. She served as a hospice chaplain for four years. She taught various courses in psychology, comparative religion, and death and dying at Cal State Fullerton, Santiago Canyon College and Santa Ana College.

Rev. Carol Aguilar

Carol is a minister and teacher at ZCOC. She has been a Zen practitioner for over 40 years. In addition to teaching and administration, Carol leads the Engaged Buddhism Program. She provides individualized Introduction to Zen Meditation sessions.

Carol is now retired from her business, Zen Home Stitchery, having provided meditation cushions at affordable prices for thousands of Zen students and hundreds of meditation groups and Zen Centers. She has an M.A. in Philosophy from SDSU with an emphasis in Dōgen Studies. Her B.A. degree is in Asian history from the University of California, San Diego. She enjoys caring for her three grandchildren, Sol, Giada and Robin.

Sr. Virgie Luchsinger

Virgie is a Roman Catholic Sister and a teacher at ZCOC. She is a Professor of Ikebana in the Ikenobo tradition (flower arranging) and she is a chanoyu (tea ceremony) teacher. She was a registered nurse, now retired, with an M.A. degree in theology from Loyola University, Chicago. Sr. Virgie’s spiritual background is as a cloistered Carmelite nun, and currently as a Sister For Christian Community. She is also an Associate Member of the Presentation Sisters of Dubuque, Iowa.

Though well-grounded in the classical Christian contemplative and mystical tradition, she has been a pioneer in contemporary forms of contemplation and spirituality, especially in relating Zen to aphophatic prayer. For more on Christianity and Zen, see: Christian Zen

Her recently published book is Moon Blossoms: Reflections on the Spiritual Path. Copies are available through the Zen Center.

She offers tea and flower arranging on a regular basis at ZCOC. Virgie’s interests include travel, piano, calligraphy, modern art, astronomy, and architecture. Her email is Luchsinger@zcoc.org

Tad Sullivan

Tad is a teacher at ZCOC. He leads Zen study programs on a regular basis on classical and contemporary Zen readings. Tad leads the monthly “Chi Gong for Zen Practitioners” program. He provides an orientation program for new practitioners at the Center. He offers introductory Zen programs in the community, for example, at local schools. He also provides tea ceremonies. Tad continues to explore the practices of the Way of Haiku and the Way of Ikebana (Flower Arranging).

Tad has a B.A. degree from Occidental College majoring in English/Drama with an emphasis on Creative Writing. He owned and managed a sales rep business to the college, stationery, and art markets for 35 years, and a family wholesale business in the paper and packaging markets for 25 years. Tad was married to his late wife, Chris, an accomplished artist and art professor, for 45 years. They have one son, Riley, and he enjoys his granddaughter Abigail.