Kieshiki – Buddhist Names

On Sunday, September 13, 2026, the Buddhist Temple of Alameda will sponsor a special Kieshiki Sarana Affirmation Ceremony. The ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Fall Ohigan service.

The Kieshiki Sarana Ceremony is an individual’s affirmation to follow the Buddha’s Path. There is no age restriction for the ceremony. Reverend Marvin Harada (Bishop of Buddhist Churches of America) will have the privilege of conducting this meaningful Kieshiki ceremony for our Sangha.

The Homyo is made up of three characters. The first character is always Shaku, which symbolizes that the recipient is a follower of Shakyamuni Buddha. Another character is selected by the recipient, and the final character is selected by the Bishop to complete the name. Below are different characters that you may select for your Buddhist name (Homyo).