Buddhability

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 SHEET1:27 How Elizabeth started practicing Buddhism5:23 Context about her professional background as a psychologist8:34 The most common mental health challenges she sees young adults struggle with today11:22 Natural questions during different developmental stages14:21 When you think something is wrong with you21:16 Connections between Buddhism and psychology on our potential for change27:58 What anxiety is and why we experience it32:47 Overcoming anxiety38:52 Why the core elements of Buddhist practice are effective44:16 Chanting vs. mindfulness47:00 The biggest change she’s experienced through chanting54:49 The value of having a community1:00 A favorite Buddhist quote1:03:20 The difference between human revolution and self-improvement1:08:01 Advice for anyone who is struggling with anxietyReferencesDiscussions on Youth, p. 5“Letter to Niike,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 1027

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 SHEET1:28 Jessica's journey to become a military psychologist6:31 Why she turned to chanting15:08 What the daily workload felt like25:36 Two Buddhist concepts that shifted her perspective27:45 How she found time to chant31:12 What she realized about herself41:36 What happened after she decided to prioritize self-care and boundaries41:15 What believing in yourself looks like in practice50:22 Advice for anyone struggling with self-worth or burnout

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 SHEET1:46 How Luca started practicing Buddhism6:03 How chanting helped him transform a lifelong health challenge13:27 How he decided to pursue acting in New York21:05 What Buddhism taught him about dealing with the ups and downs of the business30:25 Why he believes in having a Buddhist mentor36:02 How he developed a foundation for his life through community42:41 What caring for other people has to do with our own growth51:27 Advice for anyone new to Buddhism who wants to feel fulfilled Mentioned references:A Buddhability Guide to Self-Love

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 Sheet1:04 Introduction to Clara3:27 How she got stuck in a “treadmill type existence”6:04 What her dreams had been before she got stuck7:44 When and why she started practicing Buddhism11:36 How to become free from the chains of your own mind17:45 How she found her place in the workforce after school33:39 How she dealt with her pain along the journey35:36 What Buddhism says about opening the door to your life42:18 What a creative life really means44:49 How to deal with the opinions of others49:55 Advice for anyone feeling afraid to open the door to their own life

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 Sheet1:50 What we’re trying to understand today4:02 Introduction to Abe5:02 How chanting helped him feel like he had control over his life again10:54 His experiences working with the prison system16:20 How chanting helped him figure out what to do17:20 What a tenacious effort to build trust helped him achieve25:10 Why he didn’t give up28:32 How to maintain hope even when you see the darkest parts of humanity32:33 What the end goal in Buddhism is35:46 Advice to anyone feeling stuck or overwhelmed by uncertainty38:02 What “happiness for self and others” means45:39 What else to read on Buddhability about feeling stuck and making change

“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 SHEET1:18 How Chris encountered Buddhism and why he started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo8:29 The experiences that lead to Chris affirming himself17:53 How Buddhism helped him find the courage to pursue happiness25:14 What it was like to come out 30:10 What it took to break out of lifelong limitations 33:16 Continually reaffirming himself through chanting36:17 Chris’s favorite Buddhist concept42:17 Building a foundation upon valuing your life45:05 Advice for anyone struggling with self-conflictReferences: 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-kyo6:17 How he discovered his dream to become a firefighter9:56 What it took to challenge his fear 16:52 What faith means in Buddhism23:32 How chanting helped him take initiative32:05 Addressing mistakes without hesitation36:33 The role of Buddhist friends 40:28 The Buddhist perspective on optimism45:53 Advice for anyone who struggles with pessimism

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 SHEET1:18 Why Anivat started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo5:17 Having a dialogue with yourself9:11 His experiences with bullying and coming out21:03 The challenges he faced in Hawaii30:05 What it means to take full responsibility for your life35:26 How chanting helped him through the hard days45:39 Advice for anyone new to chantingReferences: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?