Clear and Open Zen Teachers
Our Teachers
The following are teachers authorized in the Clear and Open Zen School.
Rev. Russell Kyofu Seikyo Mitchell, Sensei
Russell is a Certified Safety Professional. He is also a Fellow, and currently serves as Immediate Past President of the International System Safety Society Inc. Russ has studied under Fusho Roshi since 2012. Russ received Dharma transmission from Fusho Roshi in 2022 within Open Mind School of Zen. Russ is also a Dharma transmitted priest in the Clear Mind School of Zen. Russ teaches mindful awareness as a critical element in the practice of system safety and industrial/occupational safety as well as meditation within corporate environments. Russ teaches the traditional open mind koan curriculum as well.
Kongo Rikishi Seth Eric Dennis
Inspired by the poetry and stories of Ryokan, Seth began practicing Zen 14 years ago. He is currently an assistant koan teacher in the Openmind Zen Sangha studying under Roshi Mitchell and has been given Dharma Transmission in the Clearmind Zen West lineage from his first teacher Roshi Sorenson. Seth makes his living as a chaplain. He likes to think of his hospital as “a temple of birth and death.” and feels very lucky and blessed to be able to study and practice his art there.
Gambo Berry Crawford
Berry first started practicing Zen meditation in 1992. He lived at the Sonoma Mountain Zen Center and practiced as a resident in the mid 1990s. Afterwards, he practiced with Diane “Eshin” Rizzetto in the Ordinary Mind Zen School started by Joko Beck. Later, Berry became a student of John “Shoji” Sorenson and in 2022 was given Dharma Transmission in the lineage of Dogen Zenji. He is a koan student of Russell “Kyofu Seikyo” Mitchell in the Open Mind Zen School and was authorized by him as an Assistant Teacher in June 2023.
