ABOUT OUR MINISTER

“The great voice of the Perfectly Enlightened One resounds throughout the ten quarters.”
— From the Gatha of Praising Lokesvararaja (Sanbutsuge)

THE Japanese verb hibi-ku describes a sound that echoes through space and reaches far beyond its source. The name Hibiki beautifully reflects his aspiration to help create a community united in joy—where the spirit of the Nembutsu resonates warmly in every heart. His Buddhist name, Junkyo, expresses his vow to carry forward the Buddha’s wish without fail.

His ministerial journey began in 2020 at this very temple—Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in Little Tokyo. Yet his deeper roots extend nearly a century back to his ancestor who served as a Jodo Shinshu Kaikyōshi in Sacramento, California. Walking in step with his great-grandfather’s aspiration to share Amida Buddha’s boundless compassion, Rev. Murakami graduated from Ryukoku University, left Japan, and came to the central coast to let the sound of the Nembutsu resound once again.

As a Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha minister, his foundation rests firmly on the teachings of Amida Buddha’s Primal Vow as clarified by Shinran Shonin. While shaped by traditional training in Japan, he also embraces new opportunities to share the Dharma—such as posting talks on social media and YouTube.
(Follow @bt_salinas on Facebook and Instagram / Buddhist Temple of Salinas on YouTube.)

According to legend, the Dharma Chakra—the Wheel of Dharma—symbolizes the Buddha’s teaching ceaselessly turning onward. In that same spirit, Rev. Murakami enjoys traveling in any vehicle with wheels (planes and boats included, as long as they have something that turns!)  so he can visit new places and meet people where they are. Outside the temple, sketching serves as a quiet meditation practice, a way to reflect upon the Pure Land, where all elements of nature are beautifully harmonized and illuminated by the Dharma.

Wherever Rev. Murakami goes, he seeks to nurture a warm-hearted community. Please feel free to reach out, connect, and walk the path together.

Reciting the Name — “Namu Amida Butsu.”