Homyo Service

 

The Homyo is given to a Jodo Shinshu priest on the occasion of his or her Tokudo (initial ordination). For laypeople, it is given at kikyoshiki. The Homyo was first used during the Sung Dynasty in China and is taken Homyo the story of Bodhisattva Dharkara taking that “Dharma Name” and eventually becoming Amida Buddha. The Homyo is made up of two Chinese characters preceded by the character shaku or shakuni. Shaku is an abbreviation for Sakyamuni. It is a prefix meaning “disciple of the Buddha.” Shakuni is a term used for female disciples.