Naomi Seijo Nakano is our reverend.
She offers Japanese Buddhist classes at the Central Coast Buddhist Church in San Luis Obispo.
Minister’s Message -May 2026 This page is updated every month.
Keep up to date with the previous minister’s message, on our blog.
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Minister’s Message
“I got a lot of living to do before I die
And I ain’t got no time to waste…”
~Nina Simone,
American singer,
songwriter, pianist
and civil rights activist
On May 21, 1173, a gifted child was born. During his young life, he witnessed wars, political upheaval, sorrow and suffering. His life would only make him more determined to spread the Buddha’s teaching and Nembutsu/Namu Amida Butsu.
Imagine being called by your given name and as life goes on, your name is changed a number of times. At birth, Shinran Shonin was given the name Matsuwakamaro. At the age of 9 years old, he would enter monastic life and be ordained, given the name, Hannen. He would be called this name for 20 years, while studying on Mt. Hiei.
Not being able to attain his goal of self-enlightenment, Hannen descends Mt. Hiei for a 100-day meditation retreat. On the 95th day, he has a dream of Prince Shotoku (founder of Japanese Buddhism). This conferring dream tells Hannen to take the name Zenshin and to seek out the teacher Honen. Zenshin would again be given the name, Shakku by his teacher Honen. Due to jealousy and politics of other Buddhist sects, Honen and Shakku are exiled to different areas of Japan.
Being stripped of this name and exiled, he is now named Yoshizone Fujii. However, he would refer to himself as Gutoku, an ignorant, stubble-haired one; for he was no longer a monk nor a layperson. There is no date that indicates when he began to call himself Shinran, however he was still in exile. He took part of Vasubandhu’s name (Jpn.Seshin, the first patriarch of Jodo Shinshu) and part of Tanluan ‘s name (Jpn Donran, the third patriarch of Jodo Shinshu). From then, he would be referred to as Shinran Shonin (Shonin is honorific and is translated as “revered priest”, “high ranking monk” or “saint”). It would be in the Meiji era (1860-1912) that Shinran Shonin would posthumously be given the title Kenshin Daishi.
Shinran Shonin was humble, wise, and scholarly, yet he knew he was also an imperfect being. He taught and lived Nembutsu (Namu Amida Butsu). Shinran Shonin promoted that everyone, regardless of social status, economic status, gender, age or “perceived goodness” can attain Enlightenment by reciting Nembutsu. Shinran Shonin never saw himself as a “founder”, it was his followers who gave him that title.
Custom is to celebrate birthdays. We observe Shinran Shonin’s birthday with thankfulness, gratitude and appreciation for strength and perseverance. He challenged the traditional monastic practices and was the first monk to marry and raise a family. He also saw himself as a person who would follow Honen everywhere in spirit. He explained that true entrusting (shinjin) is not earned but rather bestowed upon us by Amida Buddha. He explained that self-enlightenment was futile, and it is the working of Other Power. Shinran Shonin realized that Nembutsu was inseparable from true entrusting (shinjin), also known as settled mind (Anjin). There is so much more.
We honor Shinran Shonin in our Nembutsu on his birthday. An American custom calls forth our “Happy Birthday Shinran Shonin!”. We continue to follow his teachings in search of our meaning of Namu Amida Butsu and what is called the true self.
Gassho
Rev. Seijo Naomi Nakano