Daily life can feel like a roller coaster where we’re tossed around by the ups and downs of our health, school, family relationships and so on. Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we can strengthen our life force and become people unswayed by our circumstances. Today’s guest, Koda Jordet, of Fargo, North Dakota, shares how prioritizing his Buddhist practice, mental health and addiction recovery, helped him develop indestructible happiness. References: “Happiness in This World,” The Writings of...
Apr 05, 2024•37 min•Season 2Ep. 145
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept that we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re talking about how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo brings out the characteristics needed to make authentic relationships that last. To ask a question about the basics of Buddhism, you can email us at connect@buddhability.org References: The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace , part 3, revised edition, pp. 106–07. Discussions on Youth , pp. 39–40, 117–18, 283–84. https://www...
Mar 29, 2024•13 min•Season 2Ep. 144
It’s natural to want to look away from the inevitable reality of death but Buddhism teaches that death is an alternate phase of life and makes up a larger universal cycle. To understand death is to deepen our understanding of and appreciation for life. Today’s guest, John Plummer, of Cold Spring, NY, shares how facing his fear of loss improved his relationships and deepened his work as a film and TV writer. References: The New Human Revolution , vol. 24, pp. 177–78 A Piece of Mirror and Other Es...
Mar 22, 2024•45 min•Season 2Ep. 143
Buddhability Shorts is a monthly series where we break down a Buddhist concept that we’ve touched on in an interview. This month, we’re talking about how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo elevates the inner state of life and brings forth the life force we need to accomplish our goals. To ask a question about the basics of Buddhism, you can email us at connect@buddhability.org References: The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace , part 1, revised edition, p. 35. Discussions on Youth , p. 411. https...
Mar 15, 2024•12 min•Season 2Ep. 142
Experts say the U.S. is dealing with a serious “loneliness epidemic” as adults feel more isolated and alone than ever. How can Buddhism help us break out of our shell and find meaningful connection with others? Today’s guest, Apoorvee Sawhney, of Denver, shares how studying Buddhism and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped her to overcome self-pity in order to graduate a Ph.D. program and start a career in academia. References: “On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime,” The Writings of Nichiren ...
Mar 08, 2024•40 min•Season 2Ep. 141
Our daily lives can be challenging and we might be asking ourselves, “Is there anything more to life than sleeping, eating and going to a job I don’t like?” If you’re feeling burnt out, you’re not alone. But Buddhist practice can refresh us and help us lead fulfilling lives. Today’s guest, Kyle Maharlika-Roper, of Miami, shares how he went from burnt out in an unfulfilling job to finally pursuing his childhood dream of art. References: The New Human Revolution , vol. 16. The Wisdom for Creating ...
Mar 01, 2024•54 min•Season 2Ep. 140
Do you ever feel like you’re not making any progress even though you’ve been trying to reach a goal for what feels like forever? Today’s guest, Hannah Doherty, of Los Angeles, shares how she broke through self-doubt and stagnation to find a job in her dream field, foster friendships and reach new heights as a dancer. References: The Light of Learning , p. 130. July 11, 1997, World Tribune , p. 14.
Feb 23, 2024•55 min•Season 2Ep. 139
Buddhability Shorts is a monthly series where we break down a Buddhist concept that we’ve touched on in an interview. This month, we’re talking about how Buddhist practice helps us to value our unique qualities and lead a purposeful life. To ask a question about the basics of Buddhism, you can email us at connect@sgi-usa.org References: The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace , part 2, revised edition, p. 335. The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace , part 1, revised edition, pp. 212–214...
Feb 16, 2024•11 min•Season 2Ep. 138
Buddhism helps us to build a solid inner life that isn’t swayed by our circumstances. That strength is the key to having the confidence needed to take action toward our dreams. Today’s guest, Christopher Robin Donaldson, of Denver, Colorado, shares how he went from passively waiting for his dreams to becoming a father, professional actor, husband, college graduate and homeowner. References: The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 794 Soar Into the Skys of Hope , p. 70 Faith Into Action , ...
Feb 09, 2024•56 min•Season 2Ep. 137
It’s natural to have doubt. The key, however, is whether we use our questions as fuel to seek out answers. Confidence in the power of Buddhist practices grows with time as you see actual proof of change in your life. Today’s guest, Devesh Kumar, a medical student in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, shares how he tested Buddhism to see whether her could really make his impossible dreams a reality. References: Jan. 2, 1998, World Tribune, p. 11 Hope Is a Decision, p. 5 The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and P...
Feb 02, 2024•43 min•Season 2Ep. 136
Whether we like it or not, we don’t exist in isolation. The interconnection of life means that when we change, our environment changes as well. Today’s guest, Heidi Hayashi, of Stratford, Conn., shares how finding the courage to live true to herself improved and deepened her family relationships. References: The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace , part 2, revised edition p. 270 Buddhism Day by Day: Wisdom for Modern Life , p. 315 The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra , vol. 4, p. 20 Unlocking the ...
Jan 26, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 135
Buddhability Shorts are monthly episodes where we break down a Buddhist concept that we’ve touched on in an interview. This month, we’re talking about why Buddhist practice is neither simple altruism nor is it focused solely on ourselves. To ask a question about the basics of Buddhism, you can email us at connect@sgi-usa.org References: The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace , part 2, revised edition, pp. 239–241 The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace , part 2, revised edition, pp. 229...
Jan 19, 2024•14 min•Season 2Ep. 134
This week we’re talking about dreams. How do we dream? How do we find purpose in our dreams? And if we have a clear dream, how we pursue it. We’re speaking with two young Buddhists: one who learned how to open her life up to new possibilities and another who discovered deeper meaning in his dreams. Samantha Collins of St. Paul, Minnesota and Grady Tesch of New York City share how they discovered and followed their dreams. References: The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin , vol. 1, p. 835 The Wisdom...
Jan 12, 2024•54 min•Season 2Ep. 133
As we head into the final stretch of the year, we bring you the voices of several Buddhability listeners sharing appreciation for someone in their life. References mentioned: The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace , part 1, pp. 66-68
Dec 22, 2023•14 min•Season 2Ep. 132
Believing that we each possess limitless wisdom, courage and compassion—what we call Buddhability—can be a daily battle. Many of us impose limitations on ourselves, believing that we’re not capable of accomplishing our dreams and becoming happy. Today’s guest, Daniel Sun, of Boston, shares how he used Buddhism to overcome his limiting beliefs and become an accomplished Harvard scientist and scholar. We discuss the key role chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and studying Buddhism played in his ability ...
Dec 15, 2023•50 min•Season 2Ep. 131
We’re creating a special episode about gratitude with stories from listeners. To submit, send a voice memo of no more than 1 minute to connect@sgi-usa.org sharing a quick story about someone you appreciate. It can be a small interaction with a stranger on the bus to a family member who’s been with you all your life. We want to showcase the variety of ways one person can make an impact. So, there’s no moment to share that is too big or too small. No need to share names in your voice memo—you can ...
Dec 01, 2023•2 min•Season 2Ep. 128
Today we share the news of Buddhist philosopher and Soka Gakkai International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda’s passing and the impacts of his life and work.
Nov 22, 2023•3 min•Season 2Ep. 129
Fear and anger can be overpowering. Especially when they’re grounded in past and deeply personal experience. While our fears may feel justified they can also hold us back from accomplishing our goals and living a happy life. Today we’re talking about how to uproot those tendencies in our lives and transform them for our happiness. Today’s guest, Krithi Byadgi, of San Francisco, shares how she used her Buddhist practice to transform her deep anger and fear into the courage and joy needed to striv...
Nov 17, 2023•39 min•Season 2Ep. 127
Amid a painful reality that can’t be changed, like a family member’s terminal disease, how can we still create hope? Today we’re discussing how tapping into our Buddhability—the limitless wisdom, courage, and compassion we each possess—can help us transform our attitude, create a beautiful life, and accomplish our dreams amid a difficult reality. Our guest is Jonathan Cheng, of New York City, who shares how he is courageously accomplishing his dreams as a filmmaker to honor his parents and fight...
Nov 10, 2023•49 min•Season 2Ep. 126
Today, we have for you the season finale of Buddhability Season 1, and we’re so excited to share some big updates about the show. We’ve just passed the three-year anniversary of launching Buddhability, and with it, a huge milestone, surpassing 1 million podcast downloads, and well over 100 episodes. Thank you for your support and dedication to sharing the show all this time. Alongside this milestone, we’re welcoming a brand-new host who you’ll meet on today’s episode. Cassidy Bradford shares a l...
Oct 12, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 125
Today, October 2nd, marks the three year anniversary since our launch! We are also celebrating a milestone- hitting 1 million downloads! To commemorate this, we're going to be closing out with an exciting season finale next week. Stay tuned.
Oct 03, 2023•50 sec•Season 1Ep. 124
Here's today's question: How can Buddhism help me with this stress caused by chronic physical pain? How can I be happy living with chronic illness? Buddhism teaches that falling to illness is not a form of failure or defeat. In fact illness can be an inspiration to bring out our best, most resilient selves. References: https://www.worldtribune.org/2021/key-ways-to-view-and-overcome-the-suffering-of-illness/ https://www.worldtribune.org/2022/my-chronic-illness-sometimes-makes-me-feel-hopeless-can...
Sep 23, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 123
Here’s today’s question: Do I have to believe in chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for it to work? This is a question nearly every person who starts to chant has in the back of their mind. Unless spirituality or a chanting-like practice has already been part of your life for a while, it can feel very new and hard to believe in. We want to approach this question from a few angles but first, to answer it directly: no, when you first start chanting, you do not have to believe in it or understand it for ...
Sep 15, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 122
Here's today's question: How can I set healthy boundaries that honor myself and others? One listener asked: “How can Buddhism help me and my family with setting boundaries? Setting boundaries at work seems easier than with family stuff.” Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo about our situation ensures that we make our decisions based on wisdom, courage and compassion, rather than trends or emotion. References: https://buddhability.org/practice/how-buddhists-set-healthy-boundaries/ https://buddhability.o...
Sep 07, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 121
Here’s today’s question: What does Buddhism say about dealing with grief? Grief is something we all experience at some point in life. One listener asked, “I've recently had a few folks die and I am trying to give myself space to have this new emotional experience but also be strong, move forward, help others and be happy. What should I do?” Another listener wrote in, “What does Buddhism teach about grieving about sudden death and the trauma that comes with it?” Today we’ll discuss the Buddhist v...
Aug 25, 2023•11 min•Season 1Ep. 120
Here’s today's question, ”Can I be angry when I chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo?” It’s actually a combination of a few questions we received. One person asked, “Some days I feel powerful and determined. Some days I feel sad and cry. But lately, I've been furious and angry. Is it okay to be furious and angry in front of my Gohonzon?” And another person asked, “Is there a way I can use my anger for good?” So let's talk about anger and chanting. References: https://buddhability.org/practice/what-should-i...
Aug 18, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 119
Here’s today’s question, “I’m starting a new job soon and I’m wondering if you could talk a little bit about stressful transitions in life?” We actually got quite a lot of questions about work stress or challenging professional situations. We’ll answer the question and touch on what Buddhism says about work.
Aug 09, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 118
Here’s today’s question: I’m dealing with a really stressful relationship with someone close to me. Do you have any advice on what to do when someone just keeps getting under your skin? Well first of all, who can’t relate to this one? Stress is an inevitable part of daily life, but when it manifests through a person, it tends to bring with it a whole host of other emotions – anger, frustration, blame, hopelessness, and feeling stuck in a cycle. But Buddhism does offer some great perspective on r...
Jul 26, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 117
Today we have two exciting announcements. First, we’re launching a new 7-day series called “Change Your Relationship with Stress.” From July 24 to August 1, you'll receive inspiration in your inbox each day about how to transform stress in nearly every area of your life from relationship stress and financial stress to work and family stress. Visit us at Buddhability.org and sign up for our email newsletter to be a part of it. Our second announcement: We’re launching a new summer podcast series, ...
Jul 18, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 116
“Tips & Insights” is an episode series in which we introduce one Buddhist concept each month and share how it can be applied to your life! Today’s episode is about suffering, an inescapable fact of life for all living beings, but one that Buddhism offers a refreshing and concrete perspective on. References: https://www.daisakuikeda.org/main/philos/essays-on-buddhism/buddhist-view-of-life-and-death.html https://www.worldtribune.org/2023/faith-is-the-compass-for-victory-in-life/ https://www.wo...
Jul 07, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 115
