sessed blind passions and cannot be free from the Published by the Buddhist Churches of America, self-centered mind. Southern District Ministers’ Association with Receiving a Homyo and centering one’s daily life funding from the Southern District Council. in the Dharma will become a precious opportunity for one to focus one’s true nature on the Universal Truth of the Dharma and fully live with deep mean- Southern District Temples ing rooted in one’s own Homyo, which embod- R5,#4)(5/"#-.5'*& ies the essence of the teaching of the Buddha. Te R5/"#-.5"/,"5) 5(.5,, Dharma connection to one’s daily life will change R5/"#-.5'*&5) 5(5#!) and make one’s life meaningful and fulflling and R5,(5/"#-.5"/," further empower one to pursue the path of the Bud- R5 )-5(!&-5)'*5)(!1($#5/"#-.5'*& DHARMA NAME dha, Dharma, and Sangha. R5,(!5)/(.35/"#-.5"/," What is the difference between R52(,5/"#-.5'*& Homyo and Kaimyo? R5-(5/"#-.5'*& HOMYO R5(5,(()5&&35)(!1($#5/"#-.5'*& In Jodo Shinshu, the Dharma Name we receive is R5(-"#(5/"#-.5'*& called a Homyo and not a Kaimyo which ofered by R5(#5)(!1($#5/"#-.5'*& other Buddhist schools. Kai means precepts. Tere- R5#-.5/"#-.5'*& fore, receiving a Kaimyo means to seek enlighten- R5-.5 )-5(!&-5/"#-.5'*& ment by upholding the precepts. We, Jodo Shinshu followers, however, are not mandated to observe the precepts of Buddhism as practiced by other Bud- "#-.5-"))&-85)&&)1,-5) 5 ))5"#(-"/5,#055 Homyo, which signifes living in the True Teaching by wholeheartedly entrusting the working of the Buddha, thereby abandoning self-practice that is a Rev. Koho Takata refection of our self-centered nature. Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple If you want to live in the Teaching by receiving Buddhist Churches of America your Homyo, please contact a minister. http://buddhistchurchesofamerica.org Sample of Homyo—Dharma Name What is a Homyo? How the Homyo can guide and en- rich your life Te Japanese term, Homyo means a Dharma Name. A Homyo is conferred upon ministers by the Gomon- In the case of our secular name (frst name), there is shu who is the spiritual leader of Jodo Shinshu Hon- a wish made by our parents but no commitment on gwanji-ha denomination on the occasion of their Do- our part since it was chosen before our birth. In the -"#%#5 ),5 #(#.#&5 ),#(.#)(5 ,')(385 ),5 &35 *)*&65 case of the Dharma Name, there is a strong com- it is also given by the Gomonshu on the occasion of mitment made by recipients to center the teachings Kikyo-shiki or Confrmation Ceremony. Te Dharma in their lives. Name is personally selected by the Gomonshu from SHAKU MYO-HO Tere are so many conficts and problems oc- the Jodo Shinshu scriptures. In the Buddhist Churches curring in our daily lives. In Buddhism, we are the of America, a Homyo is given by the Bishop on the which means one who encountered the problem. We always carry attachments and a self- occasion of Kie-shiki or Afrmation Ceremony. Te Excellent Dharma centered nature. Because of I myself, we have to Dharma Name given by the Bishop is often selected sufer with problems. Te Dharma is the answer to by a resident minister based on the favorite word or our lives. Te Dharma is a mirror which refects the character from the Dharma chosen by recipient. reality of who we are and shows the cause of our What does it mean to receive a Homyo? problems. When do we receive a Homyo? Shinran Shonin, founder of Jodo Shinshu, fur- In the time of Shakyamuni Buddha, one was allowed ther defned our human nature in his writing as Many people tend to think that a Homyo is only given to join in the Sangha by taking refuge in the Buddha, follows; “We are full of ignorance and blind to the person after one’s life ends. Tis is a great misun- Dharma, and Sangha for guidance. Buddha refers to passions. Our desires are countless, and anger, derstanding. A Homyo is conferred on a person when Shakyamuni Buddha, Dharma to Shakyamuni Buddha’s wrath, jealousy, and envy are overwhelming, aris- one is still living and not on a person who has passed Teaching, and Sangha to the community of fellow follow- ing without pause; to the very last moment of life away. Te reason is to give the living person the op- ers who have entrusted themselves to Shakyamuni Bud- they do not cease, or disappear, or exhaust them- portunity to become a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha. dha and his teaching. selves.” B58jnn65).-5)(5(7&&#(!5(5 Tat is, it is to encourage people to hear the Teachings To receive a Homyo means that one becomes a disciple Many-Calling #20) of the Buddha while they are still able to do it. Terefore, of Shakyamuni Buddha. Tis is why a Homyo is preceded Buddhism signifes the teachings of the Buddha one should receive a Homyo while still living. However, by the word Shaku followed by two Chinese characters but also awakening to the Truth. However, our eyes a Homyo can also be conferred after a person’s death if which embody the essence of the Buddha’s Teachings. are always covered and hindered by our ignorance one missed the opportunity earlier. Tis is to allow the Shaku means becoming a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha. and blind passions and they obstruct us from see- surviving members of the family as well as the friends of In other words, one joins in the Shakya family and com- ing the Truth. Tis is the key point Shinran Sho- the deceased to hear the Buddha’s Teachings. mits oneself to live on the Buddha’s Teachings. nin focused on to resolve the issues in his life. Jodo Shinshu teaching is for those foolish beings pos-.