Buddhability SGI-USA

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.

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.

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.

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses trauma and attempted suicide.

Today’s episode is about mental health. Our guest is Tanushree Salvi of Boise, Idaho, who started her practice of SGI Nichiren Buddhism when she came to the U.S. for school and was introduced to chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo by a college roommate.

Tanushree shares the story of how she was able to take the steps to take care of her own mental health through a combination of professional support and her Buddhist practice, as well as how she learned to value her own life and unique beauty.

Today we’re talking about college: how hard it can be to decide where to go and what to pursue, and how to find your purpose while there.

Our guest is Josef Gaudiesus, a football coach and high school teacher in Texas, who shares his own journey of getting into college and how beginning his Buddhist practice while there helped him find confidence, a winning attitude and a sense of purpose.

Today we’re talking about family and what to do if you just can’t reconcile differences with them.

Our guests are sisters Lauren and Molly Leebove from Michigan, whose intertwined stories of beginning their Buddhist practice and transforming their relationship with their parents are rich with lessons on what Buddhability looks like in a family setting.