Rev. Robert Joshin Althouse, Sensei

Sensei Robert Joshin Althouse is the Abott of the Zen Community of Oak Park - Empty Sound Temple. An ordained Zen Buddhist priest and fully empowered Zen teacher in the White Plum lineage, Rev. Althouse received transmission from Roshi Jikyo Nicolee McMahon in 1999.

Rev. Althouse founded the Zen Center of Hawaii in 1993. He has lead many spiritual retreats and workshop since this time. In 2001 he and his wife, June Tanoue, moved to California to work for the Peacemaker Community. Rev. Althouse worked as Director of the Zen Peacemaker Order for two years with Roshi Bernie Glassman. He served on the Board of Directors of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.

Shortly after 9/11, Rev. Althouse began teaching "Inner Disarmement" workshops all over the country. These workshops teach pro-active communication skills with a special focus on working with conflict and difficult situations. Rev. Althouse continues to offer these workshops to interested groups, schools, churches, organizations, businesses and communities. Rev. Althouse also facilitates council group circles that are designed to help participants speak and listen from the heart. He has been doing this council circle practice for twelve years.

Rev. Althouse has studied with Roshi McMahon, Roshi Glassman, Aitken Roshi, Maezumi Roshi, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Gyaltrul Rinpoche. He has also studied Nonviolent Communication with Marshall Rosenberg. Rev. Althouse and his wife live in Oak Park, a suburb just outside of downtown Chicago.