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. 40
• Soka Education: For the Happiness of the Individual, pp. 209-10