Erik Hammerstrom has had a deep affinity with Buddhism since he was young and has spent his entire adult life in its study. He is a professor at PLU, where he teaches a variety of classes that all touch on Buddhism in some way, including courses on the history and religions of East Asia, and Asian American immigration history. He is a member of a Shin Buddhist temple in Tacoma and a longtime Zen practitioner, and has undergone extensive training as an interfaith chaplain.
These sessions invite participants to read and reflect on sections of the “Mountains and Waters Scripture”, an essay by the 13th century Japanese mystic Dogen, founder of the largest denomination of Zen Buddhism in Japan. In this rich text, Dogen challenges us to examine our ideas about the activity of the natural world and about the nature of the spiritual path.
Holden Village is a community where your questions are valued and encouraged. Most programs led by visiting teaching faculty occur during the summer months. However, Holden also invites faculty to teach sessions for special events and retreats throughout the rest of the year.
Check out a list of the 2024 Summer Faculty.
