The Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago

The Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago was founded in 1949 by Zengaku Soyu Matsuoka Roshi, whose family in Japan has a history of Zen Priests dating back six hundred years. In the late 40s Matsuoka Roshi was invited to come to Chicago to serve the Japanese American Buddhist Community. Matsuoka Roshi remained as Abbot for 22 years, providing dynamic leadership to the Japanese-American community in Chicago and to a growing number of new American students. Matsuoka Roshi tirelessly worked for greater understanding of Zen in America and emphasized the Zen meditation practice of Zazen. In 1971, Daikaku Kongo Roshi (Richard Langlois), Matsuoka Roshi's disciple and dharma successor, became the Abbot and served in that post for 28 years. Zen is a Japanese word meaning meditation; a special meditation that was first practiced by the historical Buddha, as a way of understanding and relieving suffering through realizing the deep wisdom already within us. Zen is the practice of being present and allowing our inner wisdom to come forth. The Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago, inspired by our history, continues on in our tradition of promoting and supporting Zen meditation practice. Please join us in this historic celebration.