20 November · Every year
Each year, on the twentieth of November, the sangha gathers on Siesta Key to remember Rev. Dr. Zengaku Soyu Matsuoka-roshi — with zazen at dawn, a memorial service, a dharma talk, and the stories that keep his teaching alive.
Calendar of events
All events take place on Siesta Key, Florida, and are open to everyone — no experience with Zen practice is needed. Come for the whole day or for a single period.
6:30 AM
The day opens in silence. Two periods of seated meditation as the sun rises over the Gulf, held as Matsuoka-roshi held them: simply, and together.
8:00 AM
Slow walking meditation between periods, followed by a shared cup of tea. No teaching, no agenda — just the quiet company of the sangha.
10:00 AM
The heart of the observance. Sutra chanting, incense offering, and the recitation of names at the altar of Rev. Dr. Zengaku Soyu Matsuoka-roshi.
12:00 PM
A quiet meal taken together in the spirit of oryoki — just enough, gratefully received. Guests are welcome; no experience is needed.
2:00 PM
Rev. Daito Thompson speaks on Matsuoka-roshi's favorite saying and what it asks of an ordinary American life, fifty years into our lineage.
4:00 PM
An informal walk along Siesta Key's white sand, where long-time students share stories of Sensei — fierce, gentle, and never fussy.
7:00 PM
One last period of sitting by candlelight, closing with a dedication of merit to Matsuoka-roshi and to all who carry the teaching forward.
Stories from the sangha
When a student asked why his transmission practice differed from the Soto shu of Japan, Sensei answered: “While much in Japan is exactly correct, this is America and we must here do American Zen — not so fussy.” The phrase has guided the observance ever since: full-hearted, and free of ornament.
To the best of our knowledge, Sensei bought priest robes for only two students — Ken Roshi and Daito — and a rakusu for others from a Japanese sewing company. Each year the robe he gave is placed on the altar, a quiet reminder that the lineage was passed hand to hand.
Students remember that he could be fierce and he could be gentle, that he lived simply and taught directly. Stories told at the evening beach walk keep that presence alive for a new generation who never met him.
“While much in Japan is exactly correct, this is America and we must here do American Zen — not so fussy.”
— Matsuoka-roshi