What happens when you’ve failed at your goal… more than once? Today’s guest, Ayumi Sasaki, of Detroit, had a big career goal that took two years and many attempts to accomplish. We discuss how her Buddhist practice and community helped her develop the ability to pick herself back up and keep going until she reached the finish line.

Resources:

Discussions on Youth, p. 24. 

The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, p. 215.

“Letter to Niike,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 1027.

Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re learning how Buddhism can help us in relationships and love.

To ask a question about the basics of Buddhism, you can email us at [email protected] 

Episode Mentioned:

On Self-Love and Relationships

References:

Discussions on Youth, pp. 60–67.

When we want others to change, we’re at the whim of our environment. One moment we’re happy with their actions and another we’re upset with something they said. Buddhism teaches us that when we work on our inner transformation our environment, including people, reflect that.

Today’s guest, Emma Grover, of Oakland, shares how developing herself helped her believe in her family.

Resources:
Living Buddhism, January 2025, p. 12.
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol 1, p. 279.
Living Buddhism, January 2021, p. 14.

Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re talking why SGI Nichiren Buddhists chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo every day.

To ask a question about the basics of Buddhism, you can email us at [email protected] 

Episodes Mentioned:

How Connecting with People Enhanced by Self Care

Mastering Your Daily Rhythm

References:

Discussions on Youth pp. 215, 218, 220-21.

We might have a laundry list of regrets but we don’t have to let them determine our lives today or tomorrow. Today’s guest, Jesse Thompson of Columbus, Indiana, shares how he used his Buddhist practice to overcome shame and create the future he’d always dreamed of.

You can also watch the video version of today's episode on our YouTube Channel. 

Resources:
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, pp. 536, 832.
Learning From the Writings: The Hope-filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 107
July 11, 1997, World Tribune, p. 14

Discussions on Youth, pp. 5, 26

Buddhist practice empowers us to positively impact our environment. Amber Owens, of Anniston, Alabama, uncovered a deep sense of purpose in revitalizing her hometown’s art culture. Today we’re talking about how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helps her continuously return to her “why” when the path to her dream gets rocky.

Today’s episode is also available in video format on our YouTube Channel.
 

Resources

The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition

Discussions on Youth, p. 172

In today’s Short, we talk about how to do the thing we’ve said we would do for days, months or years. Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview.

Resources:
Discussions on Youth, pp. 98, 262, 395.

The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, pp. 5, 103.

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol 1, p. 279.

Reach out to us at [email protected] to get connected with a Buddhability community near you.

We all have narratives we tell ourselves about what is possible for our lives. Today’s guest, Jackie Alexander, of Chicago, shares how she overcame limiting beliefs about the kind of student and person she was. We discuss how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo about everything from housing, to money, to graduate school led to Jackie’s newfound self-confidence.

Today’s episode is also available in video format on our YouTube Channel.

References

You Were Born to Win, p. 5

The New Human Revolution, vol. 26, p. 46

Thank you for an incredible year! Today we’re reflecting back on Buddhability’s 2024 guests and some things we’ve learned from them. We can’t wait to show you what we have planned for 2025.

Reach out to us any time at [email protected] to get connected to a local Buddhist community or ask questions.

The journey of self-discovery can sometimes be long and winding. Ray Guida, of Columbus, Ohio, shares how he developed the compassion and courage to live as his authentic self. We discuss the ways chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helps us face all hardships with hope and what it is like to practice SGI Nichiren Buddhism as an LGBTIQA+ person.

Today’s episode is also available in video format on our YouTube Channel.