Holly has bonded her spirituality to her activism. She began her relationship with Buddhism through Fo Guang Shan, an international Chinese Mahāyāna Buddhist organization and monastic order based in Taiwan that practices Humanistic Buddhism. However, she finds herself more aligned with Stephen Batchelor’s more secular Buddhism currently. Holly works in homeless services and is very passionate about promoting the inherent worth and dignity of all people as well as eliminating stigma about homelessness and behavioral health.
The Way Back Home: Little Holly and the Three Needs
When things start to come back together, it’s not because everything is suddenly fixed. It’s because a few key pieces fall back into place.
Just Breathe, Holly
Nobody ever told me about breathing SLOWLY before.
Buddhism and Butter Knives
Sometimes it feels like my life came in a box from Ikea and the only tool included was this tiny, cheap Allen wrench.
Siddhartha, Holly, and The Little Prince
This was a long journey. A hard journey. A dangerous journey. An illegal journey. A necessary journey.
Doing God’s Work
When I began attending Kindergarten, I had to leave my dog at home. I wasn’t crazy about this idea and I wailed about it loudly to my mother, who assured me that one day I’d have a job and I wouldn’t be able to take her there either. Immediately I crossed “get a job” off my to-do list.
Recovery is my Religion
Every greeting card, for me, is an opportunity to send a message.
Getting to Know Holly Herring
We meet with Holly Herring—one of our columnists for The Tattooed Buddha. We chat about Holly’s work with those that are homeless, her journey to being a writer and the process of writing. We also learn about how Holly and Michelleanne Bradley met and became friends, which in turn led her to write for The Tattooed Buddha!
Bathing Babies for World Peace
She explained to me that when the Buddha was born, he shot out of his mom’s side.She used her hands to demonstrate something that resembled a grenade launch from her rib cage. Then she told me that the baby came out walking and talking.
There is Recovery in the Dish Pit
It was as if I entered the pit each night as a dish gladiator and the goal was to conquer the hot, soapy hell I worked in.
I am the Gift
Today I know that I am the gift and that gifts aren’t out there waiting for me to earn them.