Nyoze Kwong received a degree in Anthropology from UC Santa Cruz. He worked as a fundraiser in Stanford University’s Engineering Department. Nyoze has a background in Socially Engaged Buddhism and has trained with well-respected teachers in Japan and United States and has over 30 years of meditation experience. In 2012 he finished his formal Zen training at Eiheiji, oldest monastery and head temple of the Soto Zen School in Japan. In 2015 he was certified and recognized by Sotoshu as a Zen teacher in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki-roshi. Nyoze has served as Abbot and Executive Director of Sonoma Mountain Zen Center (SMZC) since 2023. He lives at SMZC with his wife Kashin and his son Ejo.

Katsuzen began studying Zen in Oregon in 1976 and has been practicing at SMZC since 1979. He is the long-time Editor-in-Chief for Mountain Wind, the Zen Center's quarterly newsletter. In 2019 he received Dharma Transmission from Kwong-roshi and currently leads the Windsor Zen Group in his hometown, Windsor, California. Katsuzen first began studying with Kwong-roshi while he was preparing to become a bilingual elementary school teacher. Now retired, he works part time as a Spanish teacher. Additionally, Katsuzen has trained many years in martial arts and holds a 2nd-degree black belt in two schools of Aikido. He teaches Aikido and self-defense in Healdsburg, California and travels several times a year to offer classes and workshops in Mexico.

Tensan (天山) Chuck Ramey has been a student of Kwong roshi for more than 20 years. He took Jukai (Sky Mountain) in 2002 and was ordained as a lay priest in 2014. He lives with Karen, his wife of 54 years, in Tacoma, Washington where he leads the South Sound Zen affiliate sitting group. He first met Nyoze Kwong in New Mexico at Upaya Zen Center in 1999. Through Nyoze he met roshi. Tensan has served as President of the SMZC Board of Trustees since 2017. He and Karen are blessed to have two wonderful children, three grandchildren, a great grandson, and soon to be, great granddaughter.

Kashin Julie Kwong has been a student of Jakusho Kwong-roshi since 2001. She was born in Korea and adopted at the age of 7 to Denmark, where she grew up. She worked in the fashion industry in New York and London. She served as Shuso (head student) for the Winter Ango in 2007. Kashin has been a tea student of Mouri-sensei in the Omotesenke tradition for more than 15 years. Kashin trained for five months under Shundo Aoyama-roshi at Aichi Senmon Nisodo Training Nunnery in Nagoya, Japan in 2018 and was formally recognized by Soto School of Zen in Japan the following year. Kashin has served as Geido (arts & aesthetics) for Sonoma Mountain Zen Center. She lives at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center with her husband Nyoze, her son Ejo, and their cat Myoji.

In the spring of 2002, Kaian came to Sonoma Mountain and become a student of Kwong-roshi. In 2007 he received the precepts from Kwong-roshi. In 2008 he served as Shuso (head student) for the Winter Ango. In 2012 he was ordained as a priest. He lives on Cobb Mountain in Lake County, California with his wife, Lia, his 3 grown children, and 9 grandchildren—not in the same house but within a few miles of each other. He has co-facilitated meditation at Harbin Hot Springs in Middletown, CA. He is an artist and musician and active in both capacities in his community.

Koten David Price began formally practicing Zen at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center where he has lived as a student since 2006. During his residency he has served on the SMZC advisory board as Resident Representative, held the position of Tenzo (Head Cook) and Shissui (Work Leader). Koten received Jukai from Jakusho Kwong-roshi in 2007 and was ordained as a Buddhist Priest in 2012. He has also served as Shuso (Head Student) leading the 30-day intensive practice period in the winter of 2013, giving talks, providing interviews and guiding students through the daily schedule. Before coming to Genjo-ji, he spent 20 years as a professional cook and chef working in resorts and restaurants from Hawaii to Philadelphia. Koten is a sportsman and enjoys hiking all throughout the Sonoma County and the North Bay.

In 2006, Genzen became a member of SMZC and a student of Kwong-roshi. Usually every year thereafter, Genzen, a resident of Seattle, would travel to SMZC to attend the Winter Ango in February and the Rohatsu Sesshin in December. In February 2019, he served as Shuso (head student) for the Winter Ango. In February 2020, he was ordained along with Kanzenchi Peter Pocock, Jibun Jesse Brunette, and Totai Michał Czernuszczykj.

Shindo started practicing in Phoenix AZ in 2007 right around the time his son was born. He was at a point in his life where he had to make significant changes in order to be the father his son deserved. In 2008 he moved to Carson City to be closer to his son where he led a sitting group on Thursday nights. He would travel back and forth from Carson to SMZC to practice on weekends whenever he got a chance. He received Jukai from Kwong-roshi in 2009 and was given the dharma name Shindo which means “Mind/Ground.” He served as Shuso (head student) for the Summer Ango in 2021 and was ordained in 2023. He currently lives in Berkeley, CA with his wife and 17-year-old son and works full time. He loves spending his free time outdoors in the mountains backpacking in the summer and skiing in the winter.