Buddhability

Today we are talking about relationships and specifically addressing a few questions that we’ve received from listeners, which are: How do I decide if the person I’m with is the one? What does Buddhism say about creating a healthy long-term relationship? And how can I support my partner while also supporting myself?Our guest is Faith Jones, a young woman whose journey with Buddhism is intertwined with her relationship experience. Practicing Buddhism helped her identify a tendency to seek happiness based on external validation, not only in relationships but also at work and in other situations. She shares her story today, which is filled with so many practical insights, applicable to relationships of all kinds.CHEAT SHEET2:17 How Faith encountered Buddhism through her partner6:28 Why she started chanting8:19 Her pattern of seeking validation through relationships12:48 The story of her relationship with Cole22:14 What it was like to support his transition and go through her own transformation25:25 How she chanted through the process28:48 How to support your partner without controlling them35:10 How to decide to be with someone for the long term41:24 Navigating feeling erased by someone else’s story43:58 Her favorite Buddhist concept48:10 Advice to anyone who might be feeling insecure in their relationship

Today we’re discussing creative work, but the lessons apply to virtually anything in your life that brings out feelings of resistance, fear or self-doubt.Our guest is Monica Ong, a Connecticut-based visual poet and designer. She’s been practicing Buddhism ever since discovering it on study abroad in high school and our conversation today is filled with practical insights on how to navigate a creative career as a Buddhist.Monica’s own story is about identity and paving her own way as a visual poet. In 2015, her book, Silent Anatomies, was selected by U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo as the winner of the Kore Press First Book Award in poetry.On this episode, she shares about her journey as a Buddhist and a creative, as well as how chanting helped her navigate the pandemic, when she struggled deeply with sleep issues and health.Key takeaway: Chanting and taking small, consistent steps to tackle our self-doubt can help us create the life and work we are proudest of, no matter what others might think.CHEAT SHEET1:32 Introduction to Monica's work2:44 How she became a visual poet6:53 When and why she started practicing Buddhism11:08 How chanting impacted her creative work and path15:36 Dealing with insomnia during the pandemic 23:55 How she has challenged self-doubt and resistance33:18 Balancing work, art and family all at once40:35 Navigating the desire for validation as an artist47:47 Her favorite Buddhist teaching50:03 What she's working on now, and a poem about Vera RubinNote: In the poem about Vera Rubin that Monica reads at the end of the show, she refers to an excerpt from this article. 

Six years ago today, on June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ratified same-sex marriage, a monumental achievement after a more than 25-year battle across the country.Recently, journalist Sasha Issenberg published a riveting, comprehensive history of that struggle, titled The Engagement: America’s Quarter Century Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage, tracing it back to 1990, when the political movement took off with a case in the Hawaii Supreme Court.At that point, Issenberg explains, no significant gay rights group had endorsed marriage as an objective. But, in 1990, when three same-sex couples applied for marriage licenses in Honolulu and were denied, they turned to a lawyer named Dan Foley. Less than three years later, the Hawaii Supreme Court became the first court in the world to conclude that queer couples’ freedom to marry was a basic civil right. The rest is a fascinating and groundbreaking history of the national journey toward June 26, 2015.Today we are speaking with that lawyer, Dan Foley, who practices SGI Nichiren Buddhism. He shares his journey through the case, and how Buddhism can you help you win, no matter what your fight is.CHEAT SHEET3:20 Dan’s work as a lawyer and judge6:13 When and why he started practicing Buddhism9:25 A short history of the same-sex marriage case in Hawaii17:01 The impact it had on the rest of the country21:28 The role that chanting played in his work26:17 Why he didn’t give up30:46 The growth he had to go through along the way37:00 How anyone can tap into their Buddhability and make a difference38:27 How to summon compassion and respect in a system that is unjust45:18 Advice to anyone struggling to believe they can make a real difference

Today we're talking about how not to give up on your dream.Even if we discover our dream job or purpose at a young age, on the path to pursuing it, we often have to grapple with our own self-doubt, tough decisions, and at times, challenging and unexpected obstacles.Today we’re talking to Michael Cornell, a 5th-grade teacher in New York City. After struggling with anxiety and depression during graduate school, and then facing the realities of education in NYC, his journey in education became more and more challenging. But when he discovered Buddhism along the way, chanting helped him expand his own vision for education and develop the spirit to do his best at every task in front of him. Key takeaway: Our environment doesn’t need to dictate whether we feel we are on the right path or not. Rather, by tapping into our Buddhability through chanting, we can create the conditions to advance toward our dreams, no matter what’s happening around us.CHEAT SHEET1:24 How Michael discovered his passion for education4:21 Why he was drawn to Buddhism10:58  What his vision for education was14:23 How chanting impacted his daily life32:41 What a value-creation based vision for education looks like39:01 How to create the conditions for trust and success46:20 The award Michael is currently up for

Today we’re talking to Lorenna Garcia-Bochas, a young woman in Georgia who grew up around the Buddhist community and chanting. Her own practice developed when she started college and faced some major challenges in her family and with her own mental health, which drove her to dig deep into her own heart to find a way forward. We cover a lot today: how to grapple with multiple identities and feeling like you don’t fit anywhere; how to take care of your family when they are struggling; and how to find the courage to seek help for your mental health, if that’s what you need.Ultimately, Lorenna’s story is an amazing example of how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can be fuel for taking steady steps to respect your own life, which includes resolving doubt and pain, establishing a dream for the future and taking great care of yourself.(Note: No information on this episode should be considered medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for any questions related to treatment for mental health issues.)CHEAT SHEET1:30 How Lorenna grew up6:50 Why she started practicing Buddhism8:30 The family challenges that drove her practice11:59 What her day-to-day struggle looked like21:46 How her expectations for herself started to change25:25 How she changed her experience of school30:28 What it took to believe in herself33:46 How she found her dream career path40:24 The challenges she faced being mixed-race43:17 Transforming shame45:34 Her favorite Buddhist concept48:41 What it took to ask for help for her mental health56:52 Advice for her younger self and anyone listening

Today we have a short announcement about Buddhability’s upcoming 7 Day Refresh, starting Monday, May 17. Sign up at www.buddhability.org.

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.Also, an announcement: For anyone struggling with well-being, self-care or burnout, starting Monday May 17 join us for a 7-Day Refresh on Buddhability! For a whole week, you’ll get daily newsletters with prompts, tips and advice on how to refresh yourself to protect your health, from a Buddhist perspective. To join, just sign up for our newsletter. 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

Today we're talking about careers, a topic that we plan to cover from many different perspectives on future episodes. Our guest is Louise Ocasion, who started practicing Buddhism when she was in college and struggling with a deep sense of confusion about what to do with her life. Today, she’s a corporate executive who has worked at some of the biggest entertainment companies in the world, but the journey to get here was filled with twists and turns. In short, it’s all about how to develop true confidence in your own voice, and true humility if you do achieve success, especially in a competitive environment.Key Takeaway: Inner transformation is a never-ending process, and along with being relentless in your efforts to achieve your goals, truly believing in yourself means looking honestly at what’s holding you back on the inside, as much as on the outside.Cheat Sheet1:24 Louise’s childhood as an immigrant4:20 Why she started chanting in college12:45 What it feels like to compare yourself to other people13:59 How chanting helped her get through school16:20 How she found her way to marketing20:52 The concept of beauty, benefit and good31:31 How she dealt with negative feedback44:33 Advice for anyone who is trying to build their career right now

Instead of an episode this week, we have an announcement! Based on your requests, we just published a video explainer on enlightenment. Find it on Buddhability's YouTube or Instagram, or at this link.

Today’s episode is about a key Buddhist concept, which teaches that where you are right now is exactly the place you need to be to fulfill your purpose, as long as you're willing to dig deep into your heart and let the courage out.We speak with Dori Colly, a young mother in North Carolina. On the surface, hers is a story about the challenges she went through to buy a house. But what's most incredible about her experience practicing Buddhism is how she courageously opened her heart, despite many traumatic experiences, to put down roots in a community that she never wanted to stay in the first place, because of how volatile and unsafe it felt. Today, many of her family members live on the same block and are working together to transform the community in which they live.CHEAT SHEET0:19 Introduction to today’s topic2:16 Dori’s story5:53 What made her decide to start practicing Buddhism consistently 7:40 Her journey to buy a house14:13 How winning in the morning became the key to transforming her disbelief 16:50 What chanting can do18:42 How she’s been able to support a child with autism24:49 How chanting helped her transform family discord26:46 How chanting helped her transform how she felt towards the world30:58 How she reunited with her dad and moved him in next door32:46 What her dream became after purchasing the house40:16 The role that having supportive friends has played40:41 Advice for anyone who feels beat down by their environment right now42:55 The moment Dori’s heart shifted from not wanting to stay in North Carolina to taking full responsibility for her community