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Do you ever feel like you’re not making any progress even though you’ve been trying to reach a goal for what feels like forever? Today’s guest, Hannah Doherty, of Los Angeles, shares how she broke through self-doubt and stagnation to find a job in her dream field, foster friendships and reach new heights as a dancer. References: The Light of Learning, p. 130. July 11, 1997, World Tribune, p. 14.

Buddhability Shorts is a monthly series where we break down a Buddhist concept that we’ve touched on in an interview. This month, we’re talking about how Buddhist practice helps us to value our unique qualities and lead a purposeful life.   To ask a question about the basics of Buddhism, you can email us at connect@sgi-usa.org   References: The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 335. The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, pp. 212–214.

Buddhism helps us to build a solid inner life that isn’t swayed by our circumstances. That strength is the key to having the confidence needed to take action toward our dreams.   Today’s guest, Christopher Robin Donaldson, of Denver, Colorado, shares how he went from passively waiting for his dreams to becoming a father, professional actor, husband, college graduate and homeowner.   References: The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 794 Soar Into the Skys of Hope, p. 70Faith Into Action, p. 140 The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, pp. 165–66

It’s natural to have doubt. The key, however, is whether we use our questions as fuel to seek out answers. Confidence in the power of Buddhist practices grows with time as you see actual proof of change in your life. Today’s guest, Devesh Kumar, a medical student in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, shares how he tested Buddhism to see whether her could really make his impossible dreams a reality. References:Jan. 2, 1998, World Tribune, p. 11Hope Is a Decision, p. 5The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition, p. 126The Buddha in Your Mirror, pp. 207–10

Whether we like it or not, we don’t exist in isolation. The interconnection of life means that when we change, our environment changes as well.    Today’s guest, Heidi Hayashi, of Stratford, Conn., shares how finding the courage to live true to herself improved and deepened her family relationships.   References: The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition p. 270 Buddhism Day by Day: Wisdom for Modern Life, p. 315 The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, vol. 4, p. 20 Unlocking the Mysteries of Birth & Death The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, revised edition

Buddhability Shorts are monthly episodes where we break down a Buddhist concept that we’ve touched on in an interview. This month, we’re talking about why Buddhist practice is neither simple altruism nor is it focused solely on ourselves.   To ask a question about the basics of Buddhism, you can email us at connect@sgi-usa.org References: The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, pp. 239–241 The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, pp. 229–230 The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, pp. 227–229

This week we’re talking about dreams. How do we dream? How do we find purpose in our dreams? And if we have a clear dream, how we pursue it.   We’re speaking with two young Buddhists: one who learned how to open her life up to new possibilities and another who discovered deeper meaning in his dreams. Samantha Collins of St. Paul, Minnesota and Grady Tesch of New York City share how they discovered and followed their dreams.   References:  The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 835 The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, revised edition, p. 173 Discussions on Youth, pp. 76-77 The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, pp. 112-113 The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 279

As we head into the final stretch of the year, we bring you the voices of several Buddhability listeners sharing appreciation for someone in their life.   References mentioned: The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 1, pp. 66-68

Believing that we each possess limitless wisdom, courage and compassion—what we call Buddhability—can be a daily battle. Many of us impose limitations on ourselves, believing that we’re not capable of accomplishing our dreams and becoming happy.   Today’s guest, Daniel Sun, of Boston, shares how he used Buddhism to overcome his limiting beliefs and become an accomplished Harvard scientist and scholar. We discuss the key role chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and studying Buddhism played in his ability to shift his mindset. Cheat Sheet: 7:20 Daniel tries Buddhism to get through graduate school 11:05 Dreaming of a research career in the U.S. 21:03 What Buddhism says about self-doubt 33:56 Fresh confidence to apply for a large grant 43:46 How studying maximizes the effects of Buddhist chanting   References mentioned: A Piece of Mirror and Other Essays, pp. 39-43The Hope-Filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 133 The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, pp. 3–4The Light of Learning, p. 130

Struggles are an unavoidable part of life. While it may seem counterintuitive to view them as opportunities, Buddhism teaches that we can use each problem in our life as fuel for our happiness. Today we’re discussing how overcoming challenges builds an unshakable and undefeated self. Today’s guest, Sasha Lee, and influencer and TV personality in Hawaii, shares how she started to see that obstacles were opportunities for her growth and the powerful role a friend’s encouragement can play. References mentionedThe Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, Part 1, p. 170

We’re creating a special episode about gratitude with stories from listeners.   To submit, send a voice memo of no more than 1 minute to connect@sgi-usa.org sharing a quick story about someone you appreciate. It can be a small interaction with a stranger on the bus to a family member who’s been with you all your life. We want to showcase the variety of ways one person can make an impact. So, there’s no moment to share that is too big or too small. No need to share names in your voice memo—you can submit anonymously.   We’ll select a small assortment to share on an upcoming episode, so please submit only if you are comfortable having it shared on the podcast.

Today we share the news of Buddhist philosopher and Soka Gakkai International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda’s passing and the impacts of his life and work.