We have for several years now offered taped teishos (dharma talks) by Kongo Langlois Roshi. As the dharma heir of Soyu Matsuoka Roshi, Kongo Roshi became head of all instruction for the temple in 1976. He practiced the art of extemporaneous expression during zazen since realizing that the ability to perform in this manner was an innate gift. He often told of his early days, when he drove himself to the edge trying to write down word for word the talk he was to give at the next service or holiday. The knowledge that, just as in his life as a jazz musician he could, as a Zen priest, choose the intuitive path and be his talks rather than giving a prepared speech, was a great relief to him. People often commented that they could not even hear the turning pages. There were rarely pages to turn. However, his preparation was exacting and he had notes or a book with passages marked for quoting. Or he would be struck by a comment, interaction, or the demeanor of the group sitting in zazen before him and the long preparation of years of sitting in solitary practice would loosen the flow of words. Those of us who have listened and heard for many years often felt that what he was saying was spoken directly at ourselves. The human condition, the knowledge of the efficacy of zazen, and the great generosity of spirit which kept Kongo Roshi leading our temple and speaking to us, is what we hear and (if lucky) what we feel. The immediacy of his expression is to be matched by the immediacy of your reception. These talks were given during zazen here at the temple, where Kongo Roshi's vitality, humor, and sheer guts enlivened his teaching and responded to today's troubled world. For those who were close enough to attend services in Evanston, or have had a personal relationship in which they spoke frequently with Kongo Roshi, these tapes are a luxurious reminder. For those who never had an opportunity to meet him or who are far away, practicing alone with little support, these tapes serve as spiritual sustenance.
A CD collection of Kongo Roshi's "Zen Practice Series" talks is now available.
All audio cassettes are $5.00 each. If you purchase four or more titles in any combination, the price is $4.00 each. To order any of these audio cassettes, please e-mail us. Be sure to include your name, your shipping address, the list of the titles you would like to order, and your phone number. A representative of the temple will contact you by e-mail or phone to finalize payment and shipping arrangements. Thank you.
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