Keiryuji Teachers
Peter Gakudo den Hollander
Peter Gakudo den Hollander Roshi was born in 1957 in Leiderdorp, the Netherlands. He holds a bachelor’s degree in social studies and has worked with young adults from ethnic minorities in The Hague. In 1997, he began his Zen practice with Genpo Roshi, and later, in October 2000, he started practicing with Tenkei Roshi, who became his root teacher.
Along with his wife, Koren Kasman Sensei, he helped his teachers, Tenkei Roshi and Myoho Roshi, establish Zen River. The center was first located in Zoetermeer and Holwierde, and since 2002, it has been operating in its present location in Uithuizen.
In 2015, he went to Spain with his wife to establish Keiryuji. Gakudo Roshi received Tokudo in 2002 and was Shuso in 2005. To meet Soto requirements, he was Shuso again in 2010, with Rev. Junyu Kuroda (Hojo-san) asJokeshi for his Hossenshiki. In 2012 and 2015, he attended an international Soto Ango in Japan, in Shogoji and Toshoji. He received Shiho in December 2013 from his teacher, Tenkei Roshi. From 2008 onwards, he has led workshops, classes, and sesshins at various locations. He did Zuise in Eiheiji and Sojiji in 2015 (July & April) and is now fully qualified by the Soto School in Japan. He was appointed Nito-Kyoshi (second teacher) in June 2016 and Kokusaifukyoshi (official foreign representative of the Soto Shu) in July 2018. He received Inka (final approval) from his teacher in December 2023.
Anjo Koren Kasman
Anjo Koren Kasman Sensei (1956 – 2016) studied business economics and worked as an administrative manager in an Academic Hospital in Leiden, the Netherlands. She started Zen practice with Tenkei Roshi in 1999. Koren Sensei has been a resident at Zen River for almost 15 years, where she worked as Zen River’s financial manager. Also, for many years, she was the head of the sewing room, one of the nerve centers of the temple.
She received Tokudo in 2002 and was Shuso during Ango in 2006. She was Shuso again in 2011 with Hojo-san as Jokeshi for her Hossenshiki. She has been leading workshops and classes since 2008. She received Shiho from Tenkei Roshi in December 2013 and completed her formal training in Japan in July 2015.
Together with Gakudo Roshi, she did Zuise in Eiheiji and Sojiji, the two head Soto temples in Japan, and she is fully qualified by the Japanese Soto School. Together with her husband, Gakudo, she is one of the founders of Keiryuji. We will miss her enthusiasm, compassion, and positive outlook on life.