Dogo Nanshin Barry Graham
Biographical Outline
(Do-Go: Way of Enlightenment, Nan-Shin: Gentle Mind)
Rev. Dogo Graham-Sensei is a Zen priest who 
has been practicing for two decades, first at River of Dharma Zen Center in Glasgow, Scotland, then at Butsudo Zen Center in Kyoto, Japan.
A former boxer, he is also a social activist and a novelist, poet, screenwriter and journalist. He is the author of five published books, and his work has appeared in such magazines as Harper's and Parabola.
His novel The Book of Man was chosen by the American Library Association as one of the best books of 1995. Details magazine called him "one of the real literary finds," and American Book Review called him "the awesome Barry Graham... where innovative writing meets issues that matter."
Originally from Scotland, he has traveled widely, and has lived in the USA since 1995. After six years in Phoenix, Arizona, he moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has recently returned to Phoenix, and is now Guiding Teacher of The Sitting Frog Zen Sangha.
He sees Zen practice and social activism as being inseparable. He has taught zazen in jails, homeless shelters and community centers, and has witnessed two executions in Florence, Arizona, at the invitation of the prisoners, not the state.
In Arizona and Tennessee, he has worked to stop police brutality and gang violence. These activities led to an interest in The Engaged Zen Foundation, and a close friendship with Ven. Kobutsu Malone-Osho, whom he considers both his Dharma-brother and his teacher. Dogo Sensei joined the Board of Directors of The Engaged Zen Foundation in 2007.
He spent two years as lead columnist at Phoenix New Times, and a year as editor of the Bradley News Weekly in Cleveland, Tennessee.
He has recently finished writing a book on Zen practice for Westerners, and he is currently working on editing a collection of Venerable Kobutsu's essays. Dogo Sensei may be reached through: dogo@engaged-zen.org