Our lineage is rooted primarily in that of the Soto Zen Master Dr. Zengaku Soyu Matsuoka Roshi, through the Order of Clear Mind Zen founded by Rev. Dr. Harvey Daiho Hilbert Roshi, and his dharma heir Roshi Ryuko.

Dogen Zenji and Keizan Zenji

Soyu Zengaku Matsuoka Roshi – Ken Hogaku Shozen McGuire Roshi – Harvey So Daiho Hilbert Roshi – Tim Anshin Ryuko Langdell Roshi

The life of Zengaku Soyu Matsuoka Roshi (1912-1997)

Zengaku Soyu Matsuoka-roshi is an important historical figure in the propagation of Soto Zen in the United States. Matsuoka-roshi was born in Japan, in Yamaguchi Prefecture hear Hiroshima on November 25, 1912, into a family which had a history of Zen priests dating back six centuries. He attended Komazawa University in Tokyo, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree. From there, he studied and practiced Zen a Sojiji Zen Monastery. After several years at Sojiji, he was given an assignment to establish a Zen Temple in northern Japan, on Karafuto (Sakhalin) Island. Prior to his coming to America, Matsuoka-roshi earned a Ph.D. in philosophy, from Political Science University in Tokyo.

In 1939, Soto 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, which became the San Francisco Zen Center. After serving as a Zen Priest on the West Coast of the U.S., he attended Columbia University in New York, where he undertook further graduate study under the guidance of Dr. Daisetsu Suzuki.

Immediately following these studies, he moved to Chicago, where he founded the Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago. In addition to teaching meditation (zazen), Matsuoka-roshi extended his activities beyond 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 the Colorado State University and Chicago Central YMCA College. Beginning in 1968, he made a yearly tour of Japan. His initial tour was sponsored by the U.S. Embassy to Japan, during which he lectured on the topic of “Unknown America” in order to promote cultural understanding. In 1971, he established the Long Beach Zen Buddhist Temple. His life was dedicated to establishing Soto Zen in America.

He frequently quoted a saying: ‘Moku-rai.’ It means ‘silence is thunder.’ Much of what one learned from Sensei (‘teacher’), as his disciples called him, 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. The core of his teachings is the practice of zazen, Zen meditation, and the realization of its power in daily life. His disciples lead temples around the USA and Canada, under the Silent Thunder Order. Matsuoka-roshi died on November 20, 1997.

Many of Matsuoka-roshi’s teachings have been collected into two volumes of easily readable and wonderfully insightful talks.  Click here for link to purchase his works from Lulu.com.

Ken Hogaku Shozen McGuire Roshi (1936-2012)

Ken Hogaku Shozen McGuire Roshi was the founding abbot of Daibutsuji Zen Temple in Las Cruces (1969) and Cloudcroft (1998), New Mexico. Ken-roshi is Dharma Heir to Rev. Dr. Soyu Matsuoka Roshi, the first Zen Master from Japan to establish a Zen Temple in the United States. Ken-roshi studied with Matsuoka in Long Beach, California from 1963 until he moved to New Mexico in 1968. He traveled to Japan on two occasions with Matsuoka and was presented to the abbot of Sojiji.  Ken-roshi took Shukke Tokudo in 1968 and received Inka Shomei in 1977 from Matsuoka.  

Ken-roshi was honored with the Transmission of Light Ceremony in the Vietnamese Rinzai Zen tradition by the Most Venerable Thich An Giao. Ken-roshi was elevated to the rank of Great Master which is equivalent to Bishop. He was retired from his long career with Lockheed-Martin and NASA as an aerospace engineer. An accomplished carpenter, he built Zen furnishings for home and temple until his death in June of 2012.

Harvey So Daiho Hilbert Roshi

Daiho Roshi received Shukke Tokudo in the year 2000 and received Dharma Transmission in 2005. He began studying Zen in 1966 after being shot in the head in combat in Vietnam. He is the founding abbot of The Order of Clear Mind Zen headquartered in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  Roshi is an accomplished painter, teacher, and psychotherapist.

Roshi dropped out of high school to join the Army in 1964. He was trained as an infantry soldier and was deployed to Germany for nearly two years before reenlisting and being deployed to Vietnam in 1966. After being critically wounded he was retired from the Army. He obtained a high school equivalency diploma and after some time working odd jobs and a stint at being homeless on his motorcycle, he went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree with three majors: creative writing, drama, and English literature. He began work in social welfare, eventually becoming a child protective services supervisor. From there he obtained a master’s degree and PhD in Social Work from Case Western University. He opened a private psychotherapy practice and focused on trauma related services. He did this work until becoming ordained in the Soto Zen tradition. 

Tim Anshin Ryuko Langdell Roshi

Roshi Anshin Ryuko Langdell 妥心 竜虎 (Dr. Tim Langdell, Ph.D., BCC ) is originally from Oxford, England, and has resided in the Pasadena area of Southern California since around 1990. He is a Roshi and fully transmitted Priest in the Clear Mind Zen Order in Soyu Matsuoka Roshi’s lineage. He received the Dharma name Ryuko (Dragon Tiger) in Matsuoka Roshi’s Zen lineage (Order of Clear Mind Zen) having received transmission as a full Zen Priest. He then received the final transmission (gago) name of Anshin (妥心, Peaceful Heart) upon being made a Roshi by Daiho Hilbert Roshi (disciple of Shozen McGuire Roshi, who was a disciple of Matsuoka). Daiho Roshi authroized Roshi Ryuko to form Still Center Zen Order.

Ryuko is also a fully transmitted Zen Teacher (Sensei) in Maezumi Roshi’s White Plum lineage through Al Rapaport Roshi, Open Mind Zen, authorized to teach the full koan curriculum of that lineage.

In addition to his transmissions in the Soto tradition, Ryuko studied the full koan curriculum in the Korean tradition of ZM Seung Sahn, and has also studied with Vietnamese and Chan Zen senior teachers and masters.

He has been practicing Zen since his late teens, having been introduced to Zen through the writings of the likes of Alan Watts, DT Suzuki, and Christmas Humphries, and the teaching of the British Zen Master Douglas Harding. His early exposure to Zen was also impacted by the time he spent at Zen Center of Los Angeles in the early 1970s where he first met with Maezumi Roshi. Additionally, he has maintained a parallel practice in the Christian faith, becoming a life-professed Third Order Franciscan when he was in his early 20s. Growing up as an Anglican, he transferred to the Episcopal faith in 1990, and then eventually became ordained as an Ecumenical (independent from Rome, liberal) Catholic Priest. He was also accepted as a member of a Thomasine Order of priests and monks.

Further, he also took precepts in the Soto Zen lineage of Maezumi Roshi (White Plum Asanga), receiving the Dharma name Tetsudo at the Zen Center of Los Angeles which he first attended in 1973.

He is married with two children, a daughter who is an Episcopal Priest and a son who is an English Professor and specialist in both medieval and modern literature. His wife is a university professor of English, a Sufi and an author of various books on poets and poetry.

Ryuko is a Board Certified Palliative, Hospice and Pediatric Chaplain, being certified both as a Christian and Buddhist chaplain; he ministers to patients in the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas of Southern California. He holds a Doctorate in Psychology from University College London as well as an M.Div. from Claremont School of Theology. He continues to be very active in both Zen and Christian practice, and remains passionate about the parallels between Buddha’s teachings and the Wisdom teachings of Jesus. He is currently the head priest at a liberal, inclusive independent Catholic Church in Hollywood, CA. Sensei Ryuko is a teacher and an author of various books, including « Beginner’s Mind: An Introduction to Zen Buddhism, » and « Christ Way, Buddha Way: Jesus as Wisdom Teacher and a Zen Perspective on His Teachings. » He maintains various websites and blogs such as Still Daily – Musings of a Christian/Zen Buddhist Priest  www.christbuddha.org and www.kids-rights.org

Bloodline of the Soto Zen Lineage of Still Center Zen Order – Europe (SCZO-E)

Buddhas Bibashi Butsu Shiki Butsu Bishafu Butsu Kuruson Butsu Kunagonmuni Butsu Kashô Butsu ShakamuniButsu India Makakashô Ananda Shônawashu Ubakikuta Daitaka Mishaka Bashumitta Butsudanandai Fudamitta  Barishiba Funayasha Anabotei Kabimora Nagyaharajuna Kanadaiba Ragorata Sôgyanandai Kayashata Kumorata Shayata Bashubanzu Manura Kakurokuna Shishibodai Bashashita Funyomitta Hannyatara Bodaidaruma

China Taiso Eka Kanchi Sôsan Daii Dôshin Daiman Kônin Daikan Enô Seigen Gyôshi Sekitô Kisen Yakusan Igen Ungan Donjô Tôzan Ryôkai Ungo Dôyô Dôan Dôhi Dôan Kanshi Ryôzan Enkan Taiyô Kyôgen Tôshi Gisei Fuyô Dôkai Tanka Shijun Chôro Seiryô Tendô Sôkaku Setchô Chikan Tendô Nyojô Japan Eihei Dôgen  Koun Ejô Tettsû Gikai Keizan Jôkin Gasan Jôseki Tsûgen Jakurei Sekioku Sinryô Chikkyo Shoyû Zaisan Don’ei

Kishi Iban Daian Shueki Ishû Chûshin Shunmei Shitô Unan Toryû  Ryûshitsu Chikyû Yôshitsu Zuijaku Kaiô Genkyo Ryûun Eishû Daishitsu Chôyû Kan’oku Shuntoku Ryûzan Shûdon Chikurin Eikai Chikuô Shôrin Renbaku Shôhen Tetsugin Shuyô Ryôchô Shôtatsu Tanzan Kyôhô Chikuyhô Shuzan Kidô Gikan  Honkô Jissen Chôgai Kenshû Shôshû Gendô Ryôzan Entô Ittô Kankoku Gentei Kanryû Nannô Suiô Bukkai Sentoyu USA Zengaku Sôyû Matsuoka Hogaku Shozen McGuire So Daiho Hilbert Anshin Ryuko Langdell