About Us

Founding Teacher

Zen Master Seung Sahn 1927 – 2004

Zen Master Seung Sahn Zen Master Seung Sahn was the founding teacher of the Kwan Um School of Zen. The 78th patriarch in his line of dharma transmission in the Korean order of Chogye Buddhism, he founded Zen centers all over the world. After a long illness, he died at his home at Hwa Gye Sah Temple in Seoul on November 30, 2004. You can get more information on the Kwan Um School of Zen and Zen Master Seung Sahn here.


Guiding Teacher

Zen Master Dae Kwang

Zen Master Dae Kwang

Zen Master Dae Kwang is an ordained monk and former Abbot of the Kwan Um School of Zen in Providence, Rhode Island. In addition, he is the Guiding Teacher of the Great Lake Zen Center. He currently resides in Singapore.

 


Dharma Teachers

Susi Childress


Susi Childress, BT, Do Gam

Bodhisattva Dharma Teacher Susi Childress serves as the Do Gam (Vice Abbot) and Head Dharma Teacher of the Great Lake Zen Center. Susi has been a Dharma Teacher since 2001 and has been practicing in the Kwan Um School of Zen since 1995. Susi is a retired high school learning disabilities teacher.

 


Pete Neuwald

 

Pete Neuwald, SDT, Abbot

Senior Dharma Teacher Pete Neuwald is the Abbot of the Great Lake Zen Center, and has been practicing in the Kwan Um School of Zen since 1994.

 

Laura Otto-Salaj


Laura Otto-Salaj, SDT

Senior Dharma Teacher Laura Otto-Salaj has been practicing in the Kwan Um School of Zen since 1992. She is also a research psychologist with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for the Addiction and Behavioral Health Research; her research focuses on the intersection between addiction and sexual risk behavior.

 


Gretchen Neuwald

Gretchen Neuwald, DT

Gretchen Neuwald, DT, has been practicing since 2004 and became a Dharma Teacher in 2011. Gretchen has a B.A. in English from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and works as a library technician. She is married to Pete Neuwald and has two grown daughters, who are living and working in New York. In 2011, she and her husband happily became first-time grandparents to their granddaughter.


Chris Rundblad

Chris Rundblad, DT

Chris came to the door of Great Lake Zen center more than ten years ago. She immediately Found the center to be comfortable, practical, and solid. In addition to shared practice at Zen Center, her personal practice includes sitting and walking meditation with her dog and living life as a good potato.

 


Jorge Arciniegas, DT

Dharma Teacher Jorge Arciniegas, Buddhist name Man Shim, has been practicing with the Kwan Um School of Zen since 2012. In addition to spending time with his wife and family, he enjoys finding moments of quiet and solitude, playing with his dog and learning a thing or two from her, walking in nature and reading.

 


Claudia Orjuela, DT

Dharma Teacher Claudia Orjuela, Buddhist name Kwan Mi , has been practicing with the Kwan Um School of Zen since 2010. She is an art educator who uses the arts as a vehicle for cultural integration and environmental awareness. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Orjuela earned her BFA at the University of Barcelona, Spain and recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee with a Master of Science in Art Education.