Berry Crawford

Dharma Name: Gambo Kyogan

Title: N/A

Preferred Name: Berry Crawford

Organization: Simplicity Zen

Lineage: Clear and Open Zen, and White Plum Asanga

Bio: Gambo Kyogan Berry first started practicing Zen meditation in 1992. He lived at the Sonoma Mountain Zen Center and practiced as a resident there in the mid-1990s. Afterward, he practiced with Diane “Eshin” Rizzetto at the Ordinary Mind Zen School, founded by Joko Beck. Later, he became a student of John “Shoji” Sorenson, under whom he eventually received shiho (2022) and Inka Shomei (2025) in the lineage of Soto priest Soyu Matsuoka Roshi. He has also completed the Open Mind Zen koan curriculum under Russell “Kyofu Seikyo” Mitchell and was given dharma transmission in that lineage in 2025. Berry is a member of the “Doan-ryo” at the Valley Streams Zen Sangha and of the Board of Directors for the Sacramento Dharma Center.