Today we’re talking about effective activism and how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can allow us to tap into the internal resources we need to truly help other people. Our guest is Alex Boling, of Los Angeles, who honestly shares the insights he has gained by applying his Buddhist practice to his experiences as an activist and volunteer. Key takeaway: Sometimes we have to do the internal work to be able to truly care for the people in front of us, rather than just the idea of caring for people. CH...
Sep 28, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 84
“Tips & Insights” new episode series in which we’ll introduce one Buddhist concept each month and how it can be applied to your life! Today’s is: the oneness of life and its environment. References: Winning Over Ourselves Brings Victory in All Other Realms Video: Oneness of Life and Environment Explained...
Sep 21, 2022•9 min•Season 1Ep. 83
Today we’re talking about what it takes to believe that you can be happy, even when you’re facing the most difficult circumstances. Our guest is Christina Moran, of El Paso, Texas, who shares her own journey of pursuing happiness after experiencing a series of very challenging events that made her feel like she had hit rock bottom. CHEAT SHEET 2:29 How Christina encountered Buddhism 7:30 The grief and postpartum depression she was experiencing at the time 10:13 The Buddhist book that turned thin...
Sep 14, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 82
Today we're talking about what wellness really means from a Buddhist perspective. Our guest is Erica Stein, L.A.-based co-host of the podcast Courageous Wellness , and Buddhist practitioner. We cover everything from the powerful experiences that led to Erica beginning her own practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, to what she’s learned about wellness through producing her podcast. CHEAT SHEET 1:55 How Erica started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 3:01 The family struggles that taught her the val...
Sep 07, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 81
Today we're talking with Bobby Eppsteiner, a surgeon in Massachusetts, who shares the story of how he used his Buddhist practice to beat the odds and become a doctor, even when he was told he wouldn't make it. Key takeaway: Never give up. CHEAT SHEET 1:31 How Bobby started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 2:15 What inspired his dream of going into medicine 3:53 The challenges he faced getting into medical school 8:44 How he used his Buddhist practice to counter being discouraged 11:15 The day-to-day...
Aug 31, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 80
“Tips & Insights” new episode series in which we’ll introduce one Buddhist concept each month and how it can be applied to your life! Today’s is: the oneness of body and mind. References: We Are Connected to Everyone, Everything Our Resolve is Everything Is the Mind-Body Connection Real? Mindfulness and Buddhism...
Aug 24, 2022•10 min•Season 1Ep. 79
Today we're talking about what it takes to live your life as the main character or protagonist. Our guest is Nadia Ullah Morin, of Texas, who shares her journey practicing Buddhism after an unexpected series of events took her off the life path she had envisioned for herself. Through consistently chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, she found the courage to create a new path for herself. CHEAT SHEET 1:10 How Nadia encountered Buddhism 3:50 Why it felt hard for her to continue practicing 12:26 How becom...
Aug 17, 2022•57 min•Season 1Ep. 78
Today's episode is a conversation with psychologist Elizabeth Merrick about anxiety, therapy, Buddhism, and how they all connect. Sometimes it helps to examine what Buddhability looks like from different perspectives, identifying parallels between the work of experts in different fields and how Buddhism views the potential of human beings. Elizabeth's insights are unique because she has experience counseling young adults, training mental health professionals and being in therapy herself, all whi...
Aug 10, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 77
During the month of July, we're on short break and playing re-runs of our most popular episodes from the archives. We'll be back with brand new episodes the first Wednesday in August. This episode originally aired May 2021. Today we are covering one of our most highly requested topics: boundaries and self-care. Our guest is Jessica Riley, a mental health specialist in Florida, who most recently was a military psychologist. After struggling deeply with setting boundaries, an overwhelming workload...
Jul 27, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 75
During the month of July, we're on short break and playing re-runs of our most popular episodes from the archives. We'll be back with brand new episodes the first Wednesday in August. This episode originally aired November 2021. Today we speak with Los Angeles-based actor Luca Manganaro, who shares his intertwined journey with acting and Buddhism and the lessons he learned along the way. Key takeaway: what you do, especially if you’re currently pursuing a big dream or goal that seems far away, i...
Jul 20, 2022•56 min•Season 1Ep. 74
During the month of July, we're on short break and playing re-runs of our most popular episodes from the archives. We'll be back with brand new episodes the first Wednesday in August. This episode originally aired August 2021. Today we’re talking about work and more specifically, how to deal with feeling stuck. If you’re feeling trapped by your job or routine, or if you have a secret dream that you haven’t yet had the courage to pursue, this episode is for you. Our guest is Clara Kitongo, a youn...
Jul 13, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 73
During the month of July, we're on short break and playing re-runs of our most popular episodes from the archives. We'll be back with brand new episodes the first Wednesday in August. Today we’re playing an episode that originally aired November 2020 but feels more relevant than ever. We speak with Abe Uccello about working for change in Florida’s prison system, even when he couldn’t see any forward movement. He explains how chanting can help you build trust and respect with anyone, and what uni...
Jul 06, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 72
“Tips & Insights” new episode series in which we’ll introduce one Buddhist concept each month and how it can be applied to your life! Today’s is: karma. References: Outshining Our Karma With the “Sun of Wisdom” For more in-depth study of the karma, check out An Introduction to Buddhism , second edition, p. 40...
Jun 29, 2022•8 min•Season 1Ep. 71
Today’s episode is about learning to live your truth. Chris, of Detroit, shares the incredibly moving journey to affirm himself and how his Buddhist practice helped him find the courage to come out as a trans man. A foundational element of Chris’s experience was learning to believe that his life has unlimited value and worth, upon which he has been able to build a foundation for new dreams. CHEAT SHEET 1:18 How Chris encountered Buddhism and why he started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 8:29 The e...
Jun 23, 2022•50 min•Season 1Ep. 70
Today’s topic is pessimism, which can be defined as a lack of hope or confidence in the future. At different times in our lives, all of us might experience pessimism, especially if our future is uncertain or we find ourselves in a situation where the odds seem stacked against us. This can be compounded by societal conflicts and current affairs, and increasingly, teens and young adults feel a sense of worry, anxiety or futility about the future. Today, we'll unpack the Buddhist perspective on opt...
Jun 15, 2022•50 min•Season 1Ep. 69
Today we’re talking about self-trust, which, if you’re the type of person who is constantly berating themselves internally, can feel really hard to build. Our guest is Anivat Chanachanchai, of Hawaii, who shares how taking his Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo seriously helped him finally let go of a cycle of toxic relationships and environments. Once he tapped into his Buddhability, he finally began to trust himself and take the steps to respect his life. CHEAT SHEET 1:18 Why An...
Jun 08, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 68
"Tips & Insights” is a new episode series in which we’ll introduce one Buddhist concept each month and how it can be applied to your life! Today’s is: the mutual possession of the Ten Worlds. References: The Mutual Possession of the Ten Worlds Every Situation is the Best Situation for Elevating Our Lives What do I do about the parts of myself I don’t like?...
Jun 01, 2022•9 min•Season 1Ep. 67
Today we are discussing limiting beliefs and self-doubt. Whatever form they take for you, whether it’s your own negative self-talk, the way you see yourself or limitations others have placed on you that you’ve internalized, transforming limiting beliefs can be hard. Fortunately, the essence of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is to do exactly this. By strengthening our Buddhability, we can transform our limitations. Our guest is Rachel Mundus, who practices Buddhism in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Today she...
May 25, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 66
Today we are talking about what it takes to become unshakable. Our guest is Brittany Jones, who recently became the youngest elementary school principal in the country's second largest school district. She shares her journey into education, and how, at a crucial turning point in her career as an educational leader, chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped her challenge her own insecurities and win each day. This episode is especially relevant for anyone who struggles with limiting themselves or easin...
May 18, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 65
Today we’re about talking about how to find your path forward during a period of uncertainty. We’re joined by Shota Okajima, of New Jersey, who shares how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped him overcome tremendous anxiety about his path forward after college. Until then, Shota’s identity had been entirely tied to his ice hockey career, but once he started chanting, he discovered so much more of himself. CHEAT SHEET 1:23 Why Shota started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 4:05 Letting go of his ice h...
May 10, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 64
Today we’re talking about identity and relationships. Briana Boche, of Seattle, shares her story of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and how she developed confidence in the practice of human revolution, that is, the process of continually chanting to reveal our Buddhability—courage, wisdom and compassion for ourselves and others. One aspect of Briana’s life where her Buddhist practice carried her through was exploring her own relationship with sexuality and eventually realizing that she is ace, shor...
Apr 26, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 63
Today we’re talking about the impact our environment has on us. In Buddhism, a crucial concept called “the oneness of life and environment” teaches that our environment is simply a reflection of our own life. Because they are interconnected, when we change internally, it’s reflected in our environment. For an explainer on the topic, check out this video . To unpack this idea, we’re speaking with Nile Ross, of Santa Monica, California, about how his practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo has en...
Apr 19, 2022•55 min•Season 1Ep. 62
Today we’re speaking with Asia Harvey-Wright, who goes by Harvey, about their first steps practicing Buddhism after encountering the practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in 2020, during one of the darkest periods of their life. This episode is all about the courage it takes to be open to one's Buddhability. Harvey shares how, in the face of addiction and mental health challenges, they unearthed their own hope, creativity and desire to move forward. CHEAT SHEET 1:35 How Harvey encountered Bud...
Apr 13, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 61
Today we’re talking with journalist Melissa Hirsch about how her Buddhist practice helped her navigate her career journey. This episode is especially relevant for anyone who may have a dream they are pursuing but is finding the path to get there a bit more winding than they expected. Melissa explains how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped her transform her childhood dream of becoming a journalist into a deep desire to use her voice for justice. CHEAT SHEET 1:04 How Melissa started practicing Bu...
Mar 29, 2022•56 min•Season 1Ep. 60
Today we’re talking about the startup journey, though this episode is filled with lessons for anyone starting anything, be it a company, a project or just a fresh path in life. Creating something new, especially together with other people, requires tremendous wisdom, courage and compassion, which are the very qualities of our Buddhability. Tushar Dadlani, of Dublin, California, shares his journey of moving to Silicon Valley to start a company, and exactly how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped ...
Mar 22, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 59
Today we’re talking about how to persevere on a career path when the odds are stacked against you. Mardi Tan, of Long Beach, California, shares her incredible journey to pursue a career in aviation, an industry in which less than 5% of pilots are women. Her Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped her navigate being a woman, being out, and overcoming every obstacle that came her way in order to open a path for other female pilots. CHEAT SHEET 0:47 How Mardi starting practicing Bu...
Mar 16, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 58
Today we’re talking how to move on after experiencing loss. Our guest is Hannah Jones, of Ohio, who shares how she encountered SGI Nichiren Buddhism while in high school, and how it helped her navigate the loss of her best friend—her older brother—and ultimately find her way back to her dreams. CHEAT SHEET 1:03 How Hannah started practicing Buddhism as a teenager 5:05 Her first experience chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 10:00 The family dynamics she chanted about 15:53 How Buddhism helped her deal ...
Mar 08, 2022•52 min•Season 1Ep. 57
Today we’re talking about what it takes to tear down your walls if you have trouble showing up as your authentic self. Jermira Trapp, of Chicago, shares how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo has enabled her to transform painful family dynamics into fuel to show up as her most authentic self. This shift has impacted every aspect of her life, especially her work in law enforcement, where it can be difficult to be vulnerable and transcend differences. Still, she has learned to do both. CHEAT SHEET 0:55 ...
Mar 01, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 56
Congratulations to everyone who completed the 31-day chanting challenge on Friday! We'd love to hear how it went, especially if you are new to chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. To submit, just send a voice memo of no more than 2 minutes to podcast@sgi-usa.org sharing your name, where you’re located, and what you feel you learned or changed through the chanting challenge. We're also always open to questions about Buddhism, which we'll try to address on future episodes. Selected voice memos might be i...
Feb 22, 2022•2 min
On this episode, we’re speaking with Nikolas Spayne, of Chicago, who started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo just last year, when he remembered having heard about Buddhism and decided to look it up. Like many of us, the stress of the pandemic, the constant stream of negative news and big questions about his own life and future had him seeking a fresh path forward. Today he walks us step-by-step through his first year of Buddhist practice. CHEAT SHEET 00:54 How Nikolas encountered Buddhism 8:02 Why ...
Feb 15, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 55
