Buddhability Overcoming trauma and finding the will to live
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses trauma and attempted suicide.
Today’s episode is about mental health. Our guest is Tanushree Salvi of Boise, Idaho, who started her practice of SGI Nichiren Buddhism when she came to the U.S. for school and was introduced to chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo by a college roommate.
Tanushree shares the story of how she was able to take the steps to take care of her own mental health through a combination of professional support and her Buddhist practice, as well as how she learned to value her own life and unique beauty.
CHEAT SHEET
1:02 Introduction to Tanushree
2:18 How she started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
6:18 The first changes she witnessed in herself
13:09 Tanushree’s struggle with her mental health
15:10 The steps she took after being hospitalized
17:28 How she found the right therapist
20:01 How her inner determination to heal impacted her environment
21:54 What “kosen-rufu” means and how it helps us give meaning to our struggles
27:18 How she used Buddhism and therapy to heal
32:32 What it takes to have compassion for yourself
34:49 How she’s doing now
41:28 Her favorite Buddhist concept (see: The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, pg. 125-6)
43:46 Advice for anyone currently struggling with their mental health
45:40 A closing quote from Ikeda
References mentioned: