Minister & Minister's Assistant

Rev. William Briones was born and raised in Mountain View, CA. His major was in Biology. He worked 28 years as a Research Biologist in the Department of Physiology, at Syntex Pharmaceuticals in Palo Alto, CA. He took an early retirement in 1995 and enrolled at the Institute of Buddhist Studies at CA Berkeley's Graduate of Theology Union. Upon Completion of ministerial program at Berkeley, Rev. Briones attended Chuo Bukkyo Gakuin (Buddhist Seminary) in Kyoto, Japan for 2 years. He received his Tokudo ordination in September 2000 and Kyoshi certification in April 2001.

His orientation began at LA Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in June 2001 and he joined the ministerial staff as a full time minister in January 2002. He became the 10th Rimban (head minister) of LA Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in September 2013.

Rev. Hibiki Junkyo Murakami was born and raised as the oldest son of Jonen-ji Temple in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan. He received a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in letters of Shin Buddhism at Ryukoku University in Kyoto in 2016 and 2018.  Rev. Murakami received Tokudo ordination in 2013 and Kyoshi certification in 2015. His Buddhist name is Shaku Junkyo.

He completed the orientation program for the Japanese ministers at Jodo Shinshu Center in Berkeley, CA, known as IMOP (International Ministerial Orientation Program) in 2018. Upon completion of the three months IMOP, in January 2020, he was assigned to LA Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. 

His hobby is fixing his car and driving it. He found his love in Aikido and in outside activities such as golf, skiing, and chilling at beaches. He also like drawing sketches. 

After 20 years in Soto Zen Buddhism, John embraced Nembutsu at the LA Betsuin, finding solace in Amida Buddha's compassionate acceptance toward all beings regardless of their shortcomings and imperfections. With gratitude as his practice, he has a newfound patience for life's chaos and has traded in his solitary Zen practice for the embrace of a busy Dharma family. When one door closes, another opens.  Namo Amida Butsu!

You can visit John’s blog, Being Bombu-Cultivating Gratitude at https://beingbombu.com/