Buddhability

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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.

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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

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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

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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, short for asexual. 

CHEAT SHEET

1:40 How Briana started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

7:06 How a setback after college helped her find a new path

11:19 Getting connected to the Buddhist community in Seattle

20:20 Briana’s journey of exploring her sexuality and identity

27:53 What happened when she started chanting to find a partner

31:44 Coming to terms with a big realization

40:21 What it took to challenge her own insecurities

44:06 How she’s chanting about the future

47:45 Her favorite Buddhist quote

50:37 Advice for anyone new to Buddhism

References mentioned:

• “On the Buddha’s Prophecy,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 402.
• Discussions on Youth, p. 27.
• Discussions on Youth, p. 8.

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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 enabled him to become someone whose internal sense of confidence and self-love outweighs any negativity he experiences from his environment. Based on this shift, he has created a life and career he truly loves.

CHEAT SHEET

1:24 Nile’s early experiences with chanting Nam-myoho-reng-kyo

15:51 The turning point he experienced in 2018

25:28 How he came to redefine happiness for himself

30:51 The impact of making chanting a priority

37:08 How he transformed early experiences with bullying and racism into a sense of purpose

44:08 Becoming a better person by overcoming struggles

49:04 Nile’s favorite Buddhist quotes about revolution

52:29 Advice for anyone new to Buddhism

References:

• Video: Oneness of Life and Environment Explained 
• The New Human Revolution, vol. 2, p. 39
• The New Human Revolution, vol. 26, p. 110

Correction: It was mentioned that the 50k Lions of Justice Festival took place in 3 cities, but it actually took place in 9.

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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 Buddhism

4:45 What their initial experience of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo was like

7:10 The struggles they were facing at the time

12:58 Initial steps they took to begin their practice

15:58 The difference they saw through chanting

22:30 A Buddhist concept that stuck with them

25:39 Their experience with the Buddhist community

27:55 How chanting is helping them navigate mental health challenges

34:21 Their goals for the future

36:58 Advice for anyone who is new to chanting

References:

• Discussions on Youth, p. x
• Learning From the Writings: The Hope-filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 107

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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 Buddhism

6:46 Why she wanted to pursue journalism

9:05 Her first steps on her career path

15:03 The tension between survival and purpose

18:08 The challenges she faced in graduate school

22:35 How chanting helped her succeed in her investigative work

25:54 Overcoming social anxiety and imposter syndrome

32:40 Melissa’s favorite Buddhist quote

37:35 How her growing sense of purpose allowed her to open a new career path

45:48 What she does now

49:05 The role that the Buddhist community played in her journey

51:20 What true confidence is

53:10 Advice for anyone navigating their career

References:

• The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, volume 6, p. 244
• Discussions on Youth, p. 73

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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 him navigate the rollercoaster.

CHEAT SHEET

1:10 How Tushar started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

3:11 The perspective on world peace that intrigued him

5:07 Why he came to the U.S. to pursue his dreams of working in tech

8:04 How he decided to start a company

12:33 How his Buddhist practice helped him manifest courage

15:55 The key turning points in his journey as an entrepreneur 

18:56 How he learned not to be swayed

22:44 Mastering the art of dialogue

28:27 How he battled his own arrogance

33:12 Applying the Buddhist concept “many in body, one in mind” to work

38:46 Nine takeaways on the abilities entrepreneurs need

40:13 The importance of staying true to himself

43:58 How he thinks about peace now

46:56 Advice for anyone on a journey to create something

References

• Discussions on Youth, pp. 101–102

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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 Buddhism

6:45 Discovering her dream to become a pilot

14:25 How chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped her navigate fear

18:26 What it took for her to bring her authentic self to a male-dominated industry

21:22 How she dealt with discrimination

28:04 The Buddhist concept that helped her persevere

30:44 The ups and downs that almost made her give up

38:17 How lifting up others helped her keep going

40:19 Her vision for the future of aviation

41:46 Advice for anyone struggling to pursue their dream

References:

• Discussions on Youth, p. 105

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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 with the loss of her brother

28:09 The shift in their relationship

32:01 How having Buddhist friends helped at the darkest time

37:59 Hannah’s favorite Buddhist quote

41:06 The internal breakthrough she experienced

47:07 Her dream to go into psychology

48:43 Advice for anyone grappling with loss

References:

• Discussions on Youth, p. 69
• A Piece of Mirror and Other Essays, p. 83