Rev. Gyomay Kubose was a disciple of Reverend Haya Akegarasu in Japan and a founded the Buddhist Temple of Chicago in 1944 after leaving the relocation camp in Heart Mountain, Wyoming. His mission was to make Buddhism available to Americans by presenting the teachings in a non-sectarian, non-dualistic terminology. Throughout his life, Rev. Kubose lectured widely across the United States and abroad to spread Buddhist Dharma to all. He passed away in 2000 with numerous honors in his name, including a street sign in the city of Chicago.