A family rift. Debt. Finding a career you love. Heartbreak. Tap into 3,000 years of Buddhist wisdom to find real solutions to life’s problems. Journalist Jihii Jolly explores her own Nichiren Buddhist community through the lives of everyday people—mechanics, CEOs, mothers, artists—who are applying the teachings of Buddhism to win over their most aggravating problems. Jihii has written for The New York Times and The Atlantic, and is a member of the Buddhist community Soka Gakkai International (SGI).
What does Buddhism say about happiness? Better yet, how do we access it and sustain it, especially when faced with difficulties? In today’s episode, Rachel Salomonsen and Jim Krampf talk us through two of the biggest challenges to our happiness—our relationships with loved ones and situations in which we are faced with impossibly difficult circumstances. Here’s the key takeaway: By chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and taking full responsibility for our happiness, we can become people of conviction and tolerance—key qualities of a life of sustainable happiness.
Note: Buddhist Solutions for Life’s Problems is supported by subscriptions to SGI-USA publications. It will be published every other month. For access to past podcasts, the print and online editions of World Tribune and Living Buddhism and the new World Tribune app, visit worldtribune.org.
3 May 2022
Love and Relationships
Love is complicated, whether it’s finding a partner, making a relationship work or healing from heartbreak. Today we’re discussing what we can learn from Buddhism about how to navigate its highs and lows. The episode features the unique relationship journeys of three individuals, Tanisha Coleman, Rafael Valentin and Sara Luther, and how each used their Buddhist practice to find happiness. Here’s the key takeaway: In order To find lasting, value-creative love, we have to first develop self-love based on our own human revolution.
Note: Buddhist Solutions for Life’s Problems is supported by subscriptions to SGI-USA publications. It will be published every other month. For access to past podcasts, the print and online editions of World Tribune and Living Buddhism and the new World Tribune app, visit www.worldtribune.org.
18 Jan 2022
Part 3: “Defying the Odds” (Buddhism and Business)
The third and final story in our miniseries on Buddhism and business features the story of Toki Masubuchi, a restauranteur in Kentucky who defied the odds to build successful, community-driven Japanese-Mexican restaurants.
Key point: Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo allows you to tap into unlimited reserves of energy and fortitude to keep working toward even the most impossible goals.
Note: This will be the final set of episodes of Buddhist Solutions of Life’s Problems. Going forward, the show will be accessible for subscribers of the SGI-USA publication, World Tribune.
18 Jan 2022
Part 2: “Never Giving Up” (Buddhism and Business)
The second story in our miniseries on Buddhism and business features the story of Mitika Khera and how she used her Buddhist practice to find her voice working in a competitive corporate environment.
Key point: Never giving up is the key to victory.
Note: This will be the final set of episodes of Buddhist Solutions of Life’s Problems. Going forward, the show will be accessible for subscribers of the SGI-USA publication, World Tribune.
18 Jan 2022
Part 1: “A Clear Sense of Purpose” (Buddhism and Business)
The first story in our miniseries on Buddhism and business features the story of Luis Nieves, an entrepreneur with an epic story of building one of the most successful auto insurance businesses in the country, based on a desire to change his karma.
Key point: A clear sense of purpose and responsibility allows you to defy the greatest odds.
Note: This will be the final set of episodes of Buddhist Solutions of Life’s Problems. Going forward, the show will be accessible for subscribers of the SGI-USA publication, World Tribune.
18 Jan 2022
Buddhism and Business (Introduction)
Today we’re releasing a miniseries on Buddhism and business, which covers what SGI Nichiren Buddhism says about winning at work and how to apply your practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to your job. This first episode unpacks key concepts and introduces how the series is structured.
Note: This will be the final set of episodes of Buddhist Solutions of Life’s Problems. Going forward, the show will be accessible for subscribers of the SGI-USA publication, World Tribune.
31 Dec 2020
A Buddhist Perspective on Mental Health
Today’s episode is about mental health, which was one of our most requested topics of the year. Because there’s so much to cover, it’s divided into four parts, which you can listen to all at once, or you can check the show notes for time stamps to skip to the section that most resonates with you, though they are best understood in total.
12 Sept 2020
Buddhism and Creativity
On this episode, we discuss what Buddhism calls “the creative life force,” an inner potential that exists in the life of every person to manifest their most authentic self and create art from that place. Often, self-doubt, perfectionism or arrogance can get in the way of creating great art. Special guests Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding, along with a few other artists, explain three concrete ways to use Buddhism to develop your creative life force.
30 Jul 2020
The Buddhist Perspective on Racism
At its root, racism is born of a very human tendency that exists in all of us to discriminate against others, often out of fear. Combined with power, this discrimination becomes institutionalized and we see it in virtually every social system in America—economic, health, education, policing and so on. Buddhism directly addresses the root of this problem and many more.
In this episode we speak with Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College, as well as a number of Black Buddhists and other members in the SGI community about how they are using their practice to grapple with and speak out against racism in their own unique ways.
5 May 2020
Being Buddhist Parents
The parent-child relationship is a truly universal one. We are all the children of someone, and our relationship with our parents impacts us forever. This episode explores what Buddhism says about being a parent and how to foster children who can blossom fully, just as they are.
7 Apr 2020
The Buddhist Take on COVID-19
A special episode in response to listener requests for perspective on the global pandemic COVID-19. Specifically, we address what Buddhism says about why global crises happen and how we can stop them from happening in the future. And what you can do right now to generate hope and take positive action for yourself, your family and your community.
31 Jan 2020
Can I Change the World?
There’s a lot going on in the world. Often, it can feel impossible to change: climate change, bullying, anxiety, racism, poverty and the list goes on. What do you do when you feel like the world is just too messed up to change? Where do you find courage or hope? In this episode, we speak with Congressperson Hank Johnson and examine what Buddhism says about changing the world.
8 Nov 2019
Financial Karma
Human beings have a complicated relationship with money. It’s often the focus of our greed, jealousy or misery. But it can also be used as a tool to help us express our compassion, creativity and freedom. Contrary to popular belief, our desires don’t necessarily have to be extinguished in order to find peace. On this episode, we explore what Buddhism says about desire, wealth and attachment.
Hint: it has a lot to do with recognizing and transforming ourselves.
31 Aug 2019
Finding Your Dream Job
Today’s episode is about figuring out what to do with your life and making it happen against all odds. International Human Rights lawyer Tanya Henderson shares her journey of fighting through law school as a single mother of two. Comedian Ike Ufomado discusses how his Buddhist practice inspired him to preserve through the ups and downs of being a stand-up comedian in New York City.
Find us at SGI-USA.org
27 Jun 2019
My Buddhist Breakup
You meet someone, fall in love hard, and then one day it’s over. What does Buddhism say about overcoming heartbreak? In this episode, Amelia Gonzales, of New York City, shares how her Buddhist practice taught her that happiness lies in recognizing and cultivating her own dignity. So, how do you recover from heartbreak? In short, happiness is an inward event.
30 May 2019
You're Pushing My Buttons
We all have that one person who knows exactly how to get under our skin. In this episode, we explore what Buddhism has to say about navigating difficult relationships. Joe Peretti, of Long Island, shares his story of using his Buddhist practice to transform his relationship with his ex-wife, his co-workers and, ultimately, his father who abandoned him as a child. How do we change a thorny relationship? In short, it starts with changing ourselves.
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