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“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 RealmsVideo: Oneness of Life and Environment Explained -
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 things around for her
14:38 What changed in her first month of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
17:02 Her initial goals for herself
22:35 Survival vs. Happiness
29:48 What it took to reconnect to happiness
39:54 The role of the Buddhist community
41:46 Her favorite Buddhist quotes
43:51 Advice for anyone who feels like happiness isn’t an option for them
References mentioned:
Unlocking the Mysteries of Birth and Death “The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 149“To My Friends,” from the June 23, 2020, Seikyo Shimbun -
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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 value of Buddhism
9:16 Erica’s own struggle with weight that led to a wellness journey
20:03 What it means to treasure your life
22:11 Overcoming body dysmorphia
27:22 The power of community
30:07 How to learn how to take care of yourself
33:08 Helping others is self-care
34:02 How her wellness journey inspires her work
42:07 Connections between wellness and Buddhism
45:03 Turning poison into medicine
50:22 Advice for anyone who is struggling with their wellness journey
References
Changing Poison into MedicineDiscussions on Youth, p. 16 -
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 life of a surgeon
17:48 How he developed the strength to deal with high-stress situations
27:10 The role of the Buddhist community in his victory
31:07 Bobby’s favorite Buddhist quote
33:50 Advice for anyone who feels they are pursuing something impossible
References:
“General Stone Tiger,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 953The Never-Give-Up Queen -
“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, EverythingOur Resolve is EverythingIs the Mind-Body Connection Real?Mindfulness and Buddhism -
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 becoming a young mom impacted her life and self-worth
14:12 What drove her to begin chanting consistently
20:28 The role the Buddhist community played in her life
24:08 The turning point that transformed her marriage
37:00 How she came to love her life
39:54 Living life as the main character
45:27 Her favorite Buddhist concept
49:52 Why community is so important
52:41 Advice for anyone who feels like they’ve lost their way
References
Daisaku IkedaMindfulness and Buddhism -
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 while practicing Buddhism.
CHEAT SHEET
1:27 How Elizabeth started practicing Buddhism
5:23 Context about her professional background as a psychologist
8:34 The most common mental health challenges she sees young adults struggle with today
11:22 Natural questions during different developmental stages
14:21 When you think something is wrong with you
21:16 Connections between Buddhism and psychology on our potential for change
27:58 What anxiety is and why we experience it
32:47 Overcoming anxiety
38:52 Why the core elements of Buddhist practice are effective
44:16 Chanting vs. mindfulness
47:00 The biggest change she’s experienced through chanting
54:49 The value of having a community
1:00 A favorite Buddhist quote
1:03:20 The difference between human revolution and self-improvement
1:08:01 Advice for anyone who is struggling with anxiety
References
Discussions on Youth, p. 5“Letter to Niike,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 1027 -
This week’s conversation is the perfect refresher for anyone who might be feeling like they could use a little fire or motivation right now.
Our guest is Shawn Lewis, of New Orleans, who tells us the story of a period in his life when he found himself coasting, and after losing a job, also financially struggling with no sense of direction. By solidifying his Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, he dug deep to rediscover a childhood dream to work in the video game industry that opened up a most unexpected journey, and ultimately led to him building and selling a social media channel to create his dream career.
CHEAT SHEET
1:07 Introduction to Shawn
1:39 When and how he started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
5:24 The circumstances that led him back to his childhood dream
9:11 How he began to build his channel
11:16 What the internal battle felt like as he balanced three jobs
12:44 How he developed a habit of winning
15:18 An unexpected opportunity
19:38 The impact of striving to encourage other people
25:27 His favorite Buddhist quote
30:48 The biggest internal change he experienced
32:34 Advice for anyone who feels like they are coasting or unhappy with their circumstances
References
“The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, pp. 1000–01Discussions on Youth, p. 22 -
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 and an inability to really take care of herself, she started chanting about her situation and came to a major realization about herself that changed everything. We’ll cover how she navigated her own experience and why caring for others doesn’t have to require sacrifice.
CHEAT SHEET
1:28 Jessica's journey to become a military psychologist
6:31 Why she turned to chanting
15:08 What the daily workload felt like
25:36 Two Buddhist concepts that shifted her perspective
27:45 How she found time to chant
31:12 What she realized about herself
41:36 What happened after she decided to prioritize self-care and boundaries
41:15 What believing in yourself looks like in practice
50:22 Advice for anyone struggling with self-worth or burnout
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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, isn’t who you are. Who you are is based on what you practice every day, how you show up in relationships, how you treat the people around you and what you base your self-worth on.
CHEAT SHEET
1:46 How Luca started practicing Buddhism
6:03 How chanting helped him transform a lifelong health challenge
13:27 How he decided to pursue acting in New York
21:05 What Buddhism taught him about dealing with the ups and downs of the business
30:25 Why he believes in having a Buddhist mentor
36:02 How he developed a foundation for his life through community
42:41 What caring for other people has to do with our own growth
51:27 Advice for anyone new to Buddhism who wants to feel fulfilled
Mentioned references:
A Buddhability Guide to Self-Love
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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 young woman who started practicing Buddhism at a time when she was really feeling stuck in her career and life. Her journey with chanting opened up an entirely new perspective on what a creative life means, and now she’s living the life she always wanted.
Cheat Sheet
1:04 Introduction to Clara
3:27 How she got stuck in a “treadmill type existence”
6:04 What her dreams had been before she got stuck
7:44 When and why she started practicing Buddhism
11:36 How to become free from the chains of your own mind
17:45 How she found her place in the workforce after school
33:39 How she dealt with her pain along the journey
35:36 What Buddhism says about opening the door to your life
42:18 What a creative life really means
44:49 How to deal with the opinions of others
49:55 Advice for anyone feeling afraid to open the door to their own life
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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 unity actually means. Hint: You have to unlock your own wisdom and compassion first.
Cheat Sheet
1:50 What we’re trying to understand today
4:02 Introduction to Abe
5:02 How chanting helped him feel like he had control over his life again
10:54 His experiences working with the prison system
16:20 How chanting helped him figure out what to do
17:20 What a tenacious effort to build trust helped him achieve
25:10 Why he didn’t give up
28:32 How to maintain hope even when you see the darkest parts of humanity
32:33 What the end goal in Buddhism is
35:46 Advice to anyone feeling stuck or overwhelmed by uncertainty
38:02 What “happiness for self and others” means
45:39 What else to read on Buddhability about feeling stuck and making change
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“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 -
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 experiences that lead to Chris affirming himself
17:53 How Buddhism helped him find the courage to pursue happiness
25:14 What it was like to come out
30:10 What it took to break out of lifelong limitations
33:16 Continually reaffirming himself through chanting
36:17 Chris’s favorite Buddhist concept
42:17 Building a foundation upon valuing your life
45:05 Advice for anyone struggling with self-conflict
References:
December 2016 Living Buddhism, p. 40Soka Education: For the Happiness of the Individual, pp. 209-10 -
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 optimism. Our guest is Stuart Adams, a firefighter in California who shares the story of how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped him transform pessimism into a life of confidence and action.
CHEAT SHEET1:47 Why Stewart started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
6:17 How he discovered his dream to become a firefighter
9:56 What it took to challenge his fear
16:52 What faith means in Buddhism
23:32 How chanting helped him take initiative
32:05 Addressing mistakes without hesitation
36:33 The role of Buddhist friends
40:28 The Buddhist perspective on optimism
45:53 Advice for anyone who struggles with pessimism
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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 Anivat started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
5:17 Having a dialogue with yourself
9:11 His experiences with bullying and coming out
21:03 The challenges he faced in Hawaii
30:05 What it means to take full responsibility for your life
35:26 How chanting helped him through the hard days
45:39 Advice for anyone new to chanting
References:
Discussions on Youth, p. 9Discussions on Youth, p. 291 -
"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 LivesWhat do I do about the parts of myself I don’t like? -
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 shares the many self-doubts she has had to challenge on the long journey toward her dream of becoming a dentist for the people.
CHEAT SHEET
1:29 Why Rachel began chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
3:09 Where her dream to provide dental care came from
5:28 The difference she felt once she started chanting
9:20 What her work is now
11:43 Her greatest challenge along the way
16:13 Key turning points in challenging her limiting beliefs
24:19 What it looks like to strengthen your determination daily
30:10 The impact of learning to enjoy the journey
35:02 How she decided to tackle school again
41:02 How she uprooted her “tree of self-doubt”
43:53 Advice for anyone struggling with limiting beliefs or self-doubt
References
The New Human Revolution, vol. 26, p. 149.The New Human Revolution, vol. 9, p. 153.The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, p. 363.Sign up for our newsletter (and this week’s life hacks) here.
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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 easing their anxiety by trying to control their schedule a little too much. It’s also an incredible illustration of how sometimes, letting go and focusing on the present is the greatest strength of all.
CHEAT SHEET
1:50 Why Brittany started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
8:58 How she became interested in education
13:01 Her journey to become an elementary school principal
29:28 Finding the courage to stay the course
34:17 How her Buddhist practice helps her identify her priorities
37:54 Supporting the Buddhability of children
39:19 The importance of winning in the morning
45:44 How Brittany learned to let go of the need for control
50:00 The impact of chanting on becoming unshakable
53:05 Brittany’s favorite Buddhist quote
55:09 How she defines her Buddhability
57:13 Her vision for what’s next
59:40 Advice for anyone new to Buddhism
References
The New Human Revolution, vol. 30, p. 53.April 2016 Living Buddhism, p. 49.The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, vol. 1, p. 70. How to start chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo -
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 hockey career
10:02 What shifted once he began chanting about his situation
15:25 How he discovered a new career path
20:53 What it means to win where you are by transforming your life condition
24:17 Thinking about Buddhism as a sport
25:21 The power of having a community or team
29:06 What daily effort in Buddhist practice looks like
33:06 The Buddhist quote that kept Shota going
40:57 How Shota defines his own Buddhability
43:41 Advice to anyone who feels stuck about their future
References:
The New Human Revolution, vol. 24, p. 117.Hope is Life’s Treasure - もっと表示する
