3 Steps Ahead! A Guide to Thriving in College and in Life

About this passage, Ikeda Sensei explains: “People cannot demonstrate their full power so long as they are still relying on others in some corner of their minds and haven’t committed themselves to standing up as individuals. Buddhist practice is about making a wholehearted effort and giving it one’s all” (The New Human Revolution, vol. 23, p. 291).

3 Steps Ahead! will feature Sensei’s encouragement and Buddhist insight to help you unleash your own limitless power, not just to survive college, but to thrive! We’ll cover topics from overthinking to relationships, time management, finding a post-grad job and more! This series will also continue to feature inspiring activity reports from campus clubs across SGI-USA that are spearheading the movement for peace and dialogue at their schools. (Check out the latest On Campus Profile on pp. 48–49!)

What’s a campus club?

In 1968, the Soka Gakkai student division established university groups composed of students and recent graduates. These groups helped students encourage one another, reaffirm their shared commitment to kosen-rufu and host forums on campus to deepen their understanding of Nichiren Daishonin’s writings. Through these efforts, they spread the philosophy of Buddhist humanism among their friends and communities.

These university groups were formed in response to Sensei’s encouragement to the student division to develop strong bonds of friendship and support one another in deepening their faith. 

In The New Human Revolution, he wrote: 

All phenomena in this world are ultimately manifestations of the Buddhist Law, and the Buddhist Law is manifested in all phenomena. The university groups are gatherings of capable individuals who demonstrate the inseparability of Buddhism and society. That is why I hope all of you will not only become leaders of kosen-rufu but also make great contributions as leaders in society, dedicating your lives to the happiness of others. Therein lies the mission of the university groups, and it is also my deepest wish. (NHR-13, 38–39)

With this spirit, student division members of the SGI-USA are taking the lead in campus club activities. Campus clubs are spaces for students to learn about the empowering philosophy of SGI Nichiren Buddhism, host forums for dialogue and expand networks of friendship on campus communities.

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To Become the Epicenter of Happiness and Dialogue 

Name: Sahaja Rutledge
City: Provo, Utah
School: Utah Valley University

Living Buddhism: Sahaja, thank you for speaking with us. How did you begin practicing Buddhism?

Sahaja Rutledge: I was born into this practice, but I began my own journey in faith in high school. I had always understood from Buddhism that nothing is permanent and that we can transform any poison into medicine. I assumed everyone grew up with that outlook, but as I formed deeper friendships, I realized many people around me were deeply unhappy.

In high school, I joined the debate team, where we spent hours researching systems of oppression. By senior year, I felt overwhelmed—convinced these structures were immovable and that I had no power as one person. I felt paralyzed.

That’s when I decided to read every religious text I could find, including Nichiren Buddhist texts. I read the writings of Nichiren Daishonin, the Lotus Sutra and Ikeda Sensei’s works. Nichiren Buddhism was the only hopeful philosophy that said anyone can attain enlightenment and that changing ourselves changes our environment. That’s when I decided: I’m going to be Buddhist.

How did your life change?

Sahaja: By relying on the practice and structure, I’ve not only started to feel empowered to change my life, but I started sharing the tools of Buddhism with my friends who were struggling. On the one hand, I worried about being too pushy. But then I realized that it was actually selfish not to share. There is only so much you can do to empower someone without actually giving them the tools. 

What prompted you to start the campus club at Utah Valley University?

Sahaja: I have been going to the student division conference at the FNCC for three years. Every year, I hear inspiring stories of students starting campus clubs. In 2025, a friend and I decided that we would each start one and report our victory the next year.

Then, last September, all eyes were on my small campus when Charlie Kirk was assassinated in our campus courtyard. I vowed that instead of being known for hatred and violence, our campus would become an epicenter of friendship, happiness and dialogue that would reverberate throughout the country. I resolved to help create that through an SGI campus club.

What was the campus like after that incident?

Sahaja: Seeing my small campus on national news was surreal—recognizing students on TV, walking through the courtyard where it happened.

There are so many hateful and divisive views surrounding what happened. But never has our campus been more connected and united in terms of supporting one another and unitedly being against something. As students none of us want to see violence on our campus. We want to be safe, and we want to learn. 

People are reaching out to strangers and genuinely asking how they are doing. I can sense that the students were really shaken and are looking for something different. They are looking for change. 

Can you explain a little more about that? What are they looking for?

Sahaja: Many people in Utah believe happiness comes after death. But students are struggling now—with jobs, food insecurity and finding meaningful careers. They’re looking for love, friendship and an outlook that empowers them in this lifetime. Conversations have become deeper. People are discussing what happened, what Charlie Kirk represented, and they’re learning what real dialogue across differences looks like. It’s been incredibly empowering.

That’s truly transforming poison into medicine. How has the campus club added to that effort?

Sahaja: I’m one of two SGI members on campus and while we are not an official club yet, we have started with dialogues. We’ve had two meetings about our goals and how we are going to change our campus environment. We decided we’ll study the Twenty Life-Changing Buddhist Concepts at every meeting. Next, we will be meeting individually with two students who have expressed interest in Buddhism. 

What’s your determination? 

Sahaja: For the club, I’m determined that we get officially registered next semester. Personally, I’m a student, I’m in multiple clubs and I’m involved in students for nuclear disarmament as well. I also have homework and I’m preparing for the future. I’m determined to maintain a high enough life condition to battle the obstacles in front of me, become happy in this lifetime and create the most positive change around me as possible.

Any parting thoughts?

Sahaja: I’ve been thinking a lot about faith and what it means to have faith in your prayer. It’s a topic I’ve really struggled with because I’m such a logical person. How do you quantify faith. Does having 10% more faith give me 10% more benefit?

But recently I’ve begun to have faith in my prayer. I’m no longer waiting for the other shoe to drop. Every gongyo is a mental practice of having absolute confidence in the outcome. Having faith in my prayer is the same as having faith in myself. So, I want to say, have faith in your prayer and faith in yourself—you can change your situation through your own action!

From the January Living Buddhism