Aspiring to move through this world gently and humanely

Mr. Kobayashi-Solomon lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife of over 30 years and Genji, his four-legged shadow and hiking companion. His two grown children are living inspiring, creative, adventurous lives and continually fill him with joy.
Mr. Kobayashi-Solomon has been fascinated with Japan and Japanese culture his entire life, holds black belts in several martial arts, and was apprenticed to a Zen painting master while living in Japan for five years.

Personal Interests and Writing

He maintains a daily schedule of rigorous physical exercise, mindfulness meditation, and reading, with a particular interest in farming, history, classics, philosophy, and religion. He volunteers as an election judge and is active in local charitable organizations.

He is presently writing a book about Eastern and Western philosophical traditions and their respective conceptions of wisdom, self-sufficiency, and one’s role in society. He greatly admires and has been heavily influenced by his undergraduate philosophy professor, the late Dr. Paul Woodruff. Paul was a philosopher, an artist and poet, and a caring teacher and father, who led men in battle and knew the terrible, lasting psychological burden of war. In a word, Paul was a King. Long live the king.

Syrian Community Network

This Chicago-area non-profit assists refugees from the Syrian Civil War
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Gerry’s Café

Erik’s favorite neighborhood coffee shop, which employs adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Plum Village

A Vietnamese Zen Buddhist community founded by the late Thich Nhat Hanh.
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Professor Paul Woodruff

A link to books of poetry and philosophy authored by this giant of a man.
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