What's in a name?

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  • Meishin
    Member
    • May 2014
    • 834

    What's in a name?

    Hi,

    Just a question about Jukai and thereafter. I notice that quite a few go by their Dharma names, while a number do not. I don't have any problem with it either way in my own case. I already have a lot of names. To my kids I'm Dad, to my grandkids I'm Papa, to my friends I'm John, and to my patients I'm Dr. (until I invite them to call me John). So I can either "change" my name after Jukai or not. But I'd appreciate input from any who'd be willing to offer your reasons.

    Gassho
    John
    sat today
  • Dosho
    Member
    • Jun 2008
    • 5784

    #2
    John,

    My advice would be not to concern yourself with such a thing until after jukai. Until then, finish your rakusu or post pictures showing you are done.



    Gassho,
    Dosho

    Sat today

    Originally posted by John H
    Hi,

    Just a question about Jukai and thereafter. I notice that quite a few go by their Dharma names, while a number do not. I don't have any problem with it either way in my own case. I already have a lot of names. To my kids I'm Dad, to my grandkids I'm Papa, to my friends I'm John, and to my patients I'm Dr. (until I invite them to call me John). So I can either "change" my name after Jukai or not. But I'd appreciate input from any who'd be willing to offer your reasons.

    Gassho
    John
    sat today

    Comment

    • Jishin
      Member
      • Oct 2012
      • 4821

      #3
      Hello,

      I been told that a name is just part of the story I create about myself.

      Gassho, Jishin

      #SatToday

      Comment

      • Jundo
        Treeleaf Founder and Priest
        • Apr 2006
        • 40772

        #4
        Hi John,

        You will receive a Dharma Name at Jukai (I will write more later on about how I pick those and what they mean), and you can choose to go by that or not.

        A rose is a rose by any other name.

        Gassho, J
        ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

        Comment

        • Meishin
          Member
          • May 2014
          • 834

          #5


          Gassho
          John

          sat today

          Comment

          • Kyonin
            Dharma Transmitted Priest
            • Oct 2010
            • 6748

            #6
            Hi John,

            I guess going by your dharma name is totally up to you.

            I use my own dharma name as a reminder that my practice is a big part of who I am and that I live to serve. But that's just me and everyone knows I'm crazy

            Gassho,

            Kyonin
            #SatToday
            Hondō Kyōnin
            奔道 協忍

            Comment

            • Mp

              #7
              Originally posted by Kyonin
              I use my own dharma name as a reminder that my practice is a big part of who I am and that I live to serve.
              Wonderful Kyonin ... I too am the same way. =)

              Gassho
              Shingen

              #sattoday

              Comment

              • RichardH
                Member
                • Nov 2011
                • 2800

                #8
                I've told this story before, but my first Dharma name was Kojip. That is what is written. The teacher, who is Korean, said it meant Four Noble Truths, and the Chinese characters for it were those for four holy truths. For a few years I went by this but always got an odd reaction from Korean people, like they would look at each other and then look at me with a smile. Finally I asked a local shopkeeper about the name Kojip, and he explained that it is a well known term for a Stubborn, Blinkered, Fool. Looking back at that relationship,such as it was, it makes sense. Daizan is much better... but I'm still a stubborn blinkered fool

                Gassho
                Daizan
                Sat today

                Comment

                • Daiyo
                  Member
                  • Jul 2014
                  • 819

                  #9
                  Sorry for my ignorance.

                  What does going by X name mean?
                  Gassho,Walter

                  Comment

                  • Dosho
                    Member
                    • Jun 2008
                    • 5784

                    #10
                    Originally posted by walter
                    What does going by X name mean?
                    I'm not sure what you mean Walter. If one were to say, "Should I go by X name?", that would mean the same thing as solving for X in math...basically that you don't know what X is yet. However, I didn't see anyone use that phrase, so I'm not sure if that answers your question.

                    Gassho,
                    Dosho

                    Sat today

                    Comment

                    • Anshu Bryson
                      Member
                      • Aug 2014
                      • 566

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Daizan
                      I've told this story before, but my first Dharma name was Kojip. That is what is written. The teacher, who is Korean, said it meant Four Noble Truths, and the Chinese characters for it were those for four holy truths. For a few years I went by this but always got an odd reaction from Korean people, like they would look at each other and then look at me with a smile. Finally I asked a local shopkeeper about the name Kojip, and he explained that it is a well known term for a Stubborn, Blinkered, Fool. Looking back at that relationship,such as it was, it makes sense. Daizan is much better... but I'm still a stubborn blinkered fool

                      Gassho
                      Daizan
                      Sat today
                      Oh oh... I can just see me getting "stubborn, blinkered fool" for my new Dharma name... ;-)

                      I quite liked this article from Koun Franz... http://nyoho.com/tag/dharma-name/

                      Gassho,

                      Bryson

                      sat today

                      Comment

                      • Ongen
                        Member
                        • Jan 2014
                        • 786

                        #12
                        Walter, it means to use name X as your name on a forum or in real life.
                        On this forum, you go by the name of Walter. I go by the name of Vincent.

                        If my jukai name would be BlahBla and I start using that instead of Vincent, I would 'go by the name of' Blahbla

                        Gassho

                        Blahbla


                        Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
                        Ongen (音源) - Sound Source

                        Comment

                        • Meishin
                          Member
                          • May 2014
                          • 834

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Bryson Keenan
                          Oh oh... I can just see me getting "stubborn, blinkered fool" for my new Dharma name... ;-)

                          I quite liked this article from Koun Franz... http://nyoho.com/tag/dharma-name/

                          Gassho,

                          Bryson

                          sat today
                          Thanks all and thanks Bryson. That's a very helpful article.

                          Gassho
                          John
                          sat today
                          Last edited by Meishin; 11-25-2014, 06:08 AM.

                          Comment

                          • Ongen
                            Member
                            • Jan 2014
                            • 786

                            #14
                            Thanks Bryson for pointing out that article! It's great

                            Gassho
                            Vincent

                            Sat today
                            Ongen (音源) - Sound Source

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