We Dedicate This to
Our Founder

Zengaku Soyu Matsuoka Roshi is an important historical figure in the propagation of Sōtō Zen in the United States.

Born on November 25, 1912, in Yamaguchi Prefecture near Hiroshima, Japan, he came from a family with a history of Zen priests dating back six centuries. After graduating from Komazawa University and training at Sojiji Zen Monastery, he answered the call to bring authentic Zen practice to the West.

In 1939, Sōtō Zen Headquarters asked him to travel to the United States, where he first became an assistant minister at the Los Angeles Zen Buddhist Temple, and later the Superintendent of the San Francisco Zen Buddhist Temple.  His journey eventually led him to Chicago, where he founded the Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago—the first Zen temple in the Midwestern United States.

His life was dedicated to establishing Sōtō Zen in America. Beyond the walls of the temple, he lectured extensively to local high schools and colleges, and served as an instructor of zazen for the Chicago Judo-Karate School, and later as a special instructor at Colorado State University and Chicago Central YMCA College. He was a strong supporter of non-violence and desegregation, and wrote letters in support of Rev. Martin Luther King's civil disobedience. His tireless efforts touched thousands of lives and planted seeds of practice that continue to flourish across North America.

Matsuoka Roshi frequently used the phrase "moku-rai"—meaning "silence is thunder"—as an expression of Zen philosophy, representing the resolution of conceptual opposites into an integrated whole. Much of what one learned from Sensei was not from preaching, but from his manner, the way he expressed himself through his attitude and actions. His Zen dharma was transferred silently, naturally, through his presence. He taught that Zen is daily life and Zen is action, reminding his students that every day is a happy day. The common themes among those who knew him are his great compassion, his lack of interest in titles or exalted positions, his love of the dharma, and his joy in teaching Zen.

We carry forward his mission to transmit the essence of Buddhism through the vital and genuine practice of zazen. His disciples lead temples around the USA and Canada, ensuring that his legacy continues to guide practitioners on the path. The core of his teachings—the practice of zazen and the realization of its power in daily life—remains the heart of everything we do.