Buddhability

Today we’re talking about the battle with our own inner negativity, whatever form it may take: self-doubt, self-hatred, regret, worry or anything else.Jimmy Anicet, of Boston, shares about the significant personal journey he went on during 2019. Jimmy decided to tackle his own sense of regret and self-doubt once and for all by digging deeply into his Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Then, just a month after he arrived at a significant epiphany and things started looking up, he experienced a profound family tragedy. But this time, he decided he would use it as a catalyst for his truest happiness.CHEAT SHEET1:14 Why Jimmy started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo 5:56 What changed for him and his comedy work7:15 His turning point in 201911:51 How he decided to tackle his inner negativity for once and for all17:18 How his Buddhist practice helped him cope with the loss of his brother22:37 Jimmy’s favorite Buddhist quote27:51 What his transformation allowed him to tackle next29:46 How he gained the courage to be a leader32:26 How he sees comedy now33:45 Advice for anyone struggling with their own self-doubt or inner negativity References Mentioned:On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime: SGI President Ikeda’s Lecture Series, pp. 30-31Discussions on Youth,  p. 327To join this month’s chanting journey, sign up for our newsletter here.

Today we are talking about how to open a new path if you’re feeling stuck where you are, whether at work or in any other situation.Our guest is Fernanda Kelly, actress, entrepreneur and TV and radio host. While her career in media has been successful, Fernanda’s childhood dream was always to be an actress. Today, she opens up about what it took for her to grapple with that dream not coming true in the way she hoped, and how she used her Buddhist practice to deepen her faith in herself and become a person of action.CHEAT SHEET0:57 How and why Fernanda starting chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo3:13 The first benefits she saw from her practice6:39 The internal shift she began to experience naturally10:24 Where her dream of acting was born12:29 How she dealt with the struggle of achieving this dream18:36 What steps she took to open a new path for herself21:45 What winning means23:54 Her favorite Buddhist concept25:20 What she’s working on now27:00 Her “why”28:49 Advice for anyone who might be feeling stuck right now29:53 How having a sense of purpose helps us unlock our BuddhabilityReferences mentioned:Discussions on Youth,  p. 10To join this month’s chanting journey, sign up for our newsletter here.

Today we’re talking about the amazing difference that a month of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can make in your life, told through the story of Alex McClintock, of Hawaii. Alex is currently a diver in the Coast Guard, one of the hardest careers to train for, but his story starts in his early 20s when he felt completely stagnant. After dropping out of college and feeling increasingly lost, Alex decided to try chanting for one month, just to see what happened. He quickly realized that he didn’t value his own life, and as he took the steps to build his confidence, he changed everything.Note: To join our 31-day chanting journey beginning January 18, 2022, sign up here.CHEAT SHEET1:13 Introduction to Alex1:24 Why Alex decided to try chanting for a month5:08 Two things that changed right away10:04 How he decided to join the Coast Guard12:46 What the struggle to value his life looked like17:00 Alex’s journey through dive school23:25 How his Buddhist practice turned him into a person of action29:23 The struggle to pass exams after dive school34:37 The role of the Buddhist community in his transformation38:27 His favorite Buddhist quote40:34 Advice for anyone who wants to value their life more greatlyReferences:“On Rebuking Slander of the Law,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 444The New Human Revolution, vol. 16, p. 28

As we kick off our 31-day chanting Journey on January 18, today we are discussing how and why to make chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo a daily habit. Celize Christy, of Iowa, shares her own process of recommitting to her daily Buddhist practice over the last two years, as well as tips for chanting every day and what happens when you do.Here’s the key point: In a world that can feel increasingly overwhelming and negative, it’s important to have ways we can refresh our spirit. That’s precisely what chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which Celiz calls the ultimate self-care, is for. It allows us to tap into the boundless reserves of courage, compassion and wisdom that we all have within us (in other words, Buddhability) to navigate life with confidence and self-belief. This, in turn, allows us to show up for other people as our best self. And in community, we can build a more hopeful world. Note: To join our 31-day chanting journey beginning January 18, 2022, sign up here.CHEAT SHEET1:50 Introduction to Celize5:25 Why she decided to recommit to her Buddhist practice10:49 What chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo does14:15 Why she decided to make it a daily habit24:25 What an average morning chanting routine looks like30:05 What sustainable happiness looks like33:36 The importance of feeling worthy and capable41:03 What it takes to be the protagonist of your own life44:39 Celize's favorite Buddhist quote46:02 Practical tips for making chanting a habitReferencesHope Is a Decision, pp. 3–5

Today we’re exploring what the power of a daily practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can really do for you, specifically if you struggle with feelings of helplessness, anxiety or a need to control things. Will Moody, of New Orleans, shares his story of what Buddhism calls “human revolution,” or inner transformation, the process of tapping into your Buddhability on a daily basis to change your life and environment. After struggling with anxiety and a tendency to micromanage everyone in his environment, including himself, Will learned to replace his fear with belief in himself. Step by step, he saw his environment change profoundly.CHEAT SHEET1:31 Introduction to Will1:56 How he was introduced to chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and why he started3:56 The early experiences that contributed to his anxiety9:28 What changed when he started chanting13:32 How he feels now16:25 What his anxiety and need for control used to look like22:57 How Buddhist study helped him transform his tendency32:52 What change looked like for him38:56 On setting intentions for relationships45:02 What an average day looks like when you chant50:46 Advice for anyone who is struggling with anxiety or feeling out of controlReferences Will mentioned:“Strategy of the Lotus Sutra,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 1000Learning From the Writings: The Hope-Filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 141A Foundation for Your Life, p. 65To hear about this month's chanting journey, sign up for our newsletter here. 

A short message to thank all of our amazing listeners and guests for a fantastic year! We’re taking a break for the holidays and will be back with a new episode on Monday, January 3. In the meantime, to sign-up for our weekly newsletter visit: https://buddhability.org/connect/

Today we’re talking about self-love and relationships, and, specifically, how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can empower you to become the protagonist in all your relationships, whether they are romantic or family-oriented, or you just want to better how you interact with other people.Marilena Ward, of Queens, New York, shares her story today, which begins with one of the toughest periods of her life, when she moved from Panama to New York by herself to learn English and begin a new life. On a deeper level, however, she was running away from a number of challenging relationships, including with her then-boyfriend and her family.This is when she decided to start her Buddhist practice and quickly realized that she was the common denominator in all her relationships, and her tendency toward pessimism and anger was driving her unhappiness. So began a journey of profound inner transformation in which she used chanting to heal her own toxic relationship with herself, which caused ripple effects in all her other relationships.Cheat Sheet1:30 Introduction to Marilena2:05 When and why she began practicing Buddhism4:35 The hope that emerged from chanting8:32 Her experience in a toxic relationship10:50 How her journey of self-love began13:03 The role the Buddhist community played in her transformation16:32 How she changed on the inside24:20 The Buddhist concept that took a huge weight off her shoulders25:49 What karma into mission means32:49 Three steps anyone can take to begin to tackle self-love41:26 What Marilena’s vision for the future is43:32 Advice for anyone struggling with self-love or relationships right nowReferences:How you can practice self-love every day

Consider any situation you’ve found yourself in where you felt like you couldn’t truly be yourself. Have you ever changed your behavior to fit in or impress others?On this episode, we’re talking with Brandon Poythress, of Dallas, who struggled with exactly that from a young age. When he started practicing SGI Nichiren Buddhism, he quickly discovered he was seeking approval from other people, which, in Buddhism, means you are seeking happiness outside yourself. Today we’ll cover how to flip that script and turn inward to find yourself instead.CHEAT SHEET1:21 Introduction to Brandon1:51 Why he started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo as a teenager 4:21 How it helped him stop seeking approval from other people7:42 What it took for him to make good friends8:38 How he applied Buddhist philosophy to his situation12:22 How he became comfortable with himself18:36 What he decided to challenge next27:34 Brandon’s vision for his 30s, 40s and 50s32:55 What uncovering your Buddhability really means37:48 Advice for anyone who feels stuck in a cycle of seeking approval from others

Today we are addressing a topic that’s universally challenging in close human relationships: How do you care for someone who struggles to care for themself? What if your belief in them is greater than their belief in themself?To address these questions, we are speaking with Katie Thornber, of Los Angeles, who bravely shares a very personal journey she went through with her late father, and how she used her Buddhist practice to support him through the toughest time of his life.This story is an incredible example of the Buddhist principle of the oneness of life and its environment.CHEAT SHEET1:09 Introduction to Katie and how she started practicing SGI Nichiren Buddhism4:13 A little bit about her family and their experience with the financial crisis6:05 How she decided to approach the situation 10:30 What her dad was going through11:45 Why she turned to chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo at this time14:58 How she saw herself and her environment begin to change19:25 Her dad’s health challenges and what it took to get him to a doctor24:41 How he opened up to her27:03 Why change always begins within27:54 What Katie came to believe in30:56 What freedom means in Buddhism41:53 What the experience was like for Katie’s mom45:50 How this experience impacted other aspects of her life49:31 Advice to anyone who is struggling to support someone they care for51:02 Words from Buddhist philosopher Daisaku Ikeda that Katie holds on to References:Video: The oneness of life and environment explainedQuote: Discussions on Youth, p. 27

Today we're tackling social anxiety, which feels like it has become ubiquitous since the pandemic began. Social interactions seem to take more energy after being physically distanced for so long. The world feels more polarized and therefore, a bit more intimidating. And then there's the real fear of social interaction. Given all of this, the approaching holiday season and the fact that many Americans are still adjusting to in-person school and work, we reached out to a few Buddhist teenagers to ask for their advice on how to deal with social anxiety.CHEAT SHEET0:55 What is social anxiety?3:18 Meet Nico, Kimmy and Sudha3:57 How they started practicing Buddhism9:14 Their favorite Buddhist concepts11:34 What it’s been like to go back to school 19:30 Their best advice for social anxietyReferences: ADAA: The COVID-19 Cycle: Social Anxiety and Withrdrawal in School-Aged KidsADAA: Social Anxiety During COVID-19Buddhability: Why Buddhist Don’t Sweat MistakesGirls Night In: Questions to Ask a New Person