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What will happen if we chant the Odaimoku, Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō? (7/11)
Buddhist priests of Honmon Butsuryū Shū (本門佛立宗) are known as Kyōmu (教務). The term “Kyō” (教) in Kyōmu literally means “teaching,” while “Mu” (務) signifies “attending to one’s duties faithfully.” Thus, Kyōmu are priests dedicated to teaching people about the faith in the Odaimoku, the true teaching of the Buddha, and propagating it worldwide. HBS members commonly refer to them as Okyōmu-san (お教務さん), where “O” (御) is an honorific prefix indicating respect, and “San” (さん) is an honorific suffix used in a friendly manner.
Okyōmu-san are also called Okō-shi (お講師). Although HBS has grown into one of the major Buddhist sects, it originated from small Buddhist services called Kō (講), which were frequently held in followers’ homes by Nissen Shōnin (日扇聖人), the founder of HBS. These gatherings were not just for praying to the Buddha or holding memorial services for ancestors; they also included lectures on the teachings of the Primordial Buddha, Nichiren Shōnin (日蓮聖人), and the Lotus Sutra (the Odaimoku). These lectures, known as Okō (御講), were highly valued by Nissen Shōnin. The term “Kō” (講) literally means “a meeting for a lecture on Buddhist teachings,” and “Shi” (師) is an honorific suffix for instructors, teachers, and priests. Thus, Okō-shi denotes a priest who educates others about the faith in the Odaimoku.
Okyōmu-san are regarded as disciples of the Primordial Buddha and Nichiren Shōnin because they devote their lives to teaching and propagating the Odaimoku. Therefore, followers of HBS hold them in high esteem, serving and respecting them as if they were the Buddha or Nichiren Shōnin himself.
How do Okyōmu-san specifically teach and guide followers? Whenever a Buddhist service is held in a temple or a follower’s home, a sermon called Gohōmon (御法門) is delivered by Okyōmu-san. In the next article, we will explore the nature of Gohōmon.
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Gohōmon—Sermons that Deepen and Enhance Faith in the Odaimoku (9/11)
