At My Crucial Moment

Friendship is the most beautiful, most powerful and most valuable treasure in life. It is your true wealth. No matter how much status people may gain or how rich they may become, a life without friends is sad and lonely. It also leads to an unbalanced, self-centered existence.

There is nothing more wonderful or precious than the friendships of one’s youth. (Discussions on Youth, p. 39)

In August, we mark SGI-USA Men’s Division Month with many men and young men taking part in their district discussion meetings. The World Tribune asked two young men’s division members about the big brothers in faith who supported them at a crucial moment. As we think too about those who were good friends to us in the early days of our Buddhist practice, we can pay it forward by introducing youth to the empowering principles of Buddhism, with the spirit that doing so is Up to Me!

My Big Brother in Faith

by Koda Jordet
Fargo, N.D.

At 16, I began struggling with alcoholism, which progressed to drugs. I didn’t know of healthy ways to cope with my challenges, and this went on for four years. I lost jobs and important relationships along the way and constantly fought with my family. When I was 20, a childhood friend, Tim, introduced me to Buddhism.

I was skeptical about practicing in the beginning because I was raised a Christian. Then Tim introduced me to this men’s division member named Sudarshan. He’s been my big brother in faith ever since.

At the beginning of my practice, while I battled the difficulties of everyday life, Sudarshan would always check up on me. I would go to his place to chant or meet at a coffee shop where we would engage in dialogue and study Buddhism together.

One of the first things we studied was Nichiren Daishonin’s writing “The One-eyed Turtle and the Floating Log,” which explains how rare it is to be born a human being and even rarer to encounter Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (see The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, pp. 958–59). He would tell me how fortunate we were to be born at this time with Ikeda Sensei as our mentor. These one-to-one visits and other SGI activities enabled me to believe in my heart that my life had purpose, that I had a mission, and that I had become a part of a community that wanted me to become absolutely happy and could teach me how to do so.

Whenever life’s difficulties became too big, my big brother in faith has always been there to encourage me. Following his example, I eventually took on young men’s leadership. One day, Sudarshan and I were driving around doing activities when I became emotional in the car, thinking about a challenge I was going through. He simply said that it’s OK to have my emotions, and it’s OK to cry. And no matter what I may be feeling, we could take it to the Gohonzon.

That moment deeply affected me because I felt I could be myself with Sudarshan, and I could talk about any struggle I encountered.

I have received many incredible benefits from practicing Buddhism, including achieving sobriety and creating a more harmonious family. I just started a job as a peer support specialist. I help people connect to resources for addiction, joblessness and housing. My goal is to eventually get professional degrees so that I can open my own addiction treatment center. I have lost friends to addiction and mental health issues. So just as I was supported, I’ve vowed to respond to Sensei by supporting others in society, helping them achieve health and happiness.

Sensei states: “Youth should have the spirit to exert 10 times the effort they have up to now. Faith is not empty posturing or lip service. It is action. It is all about whether you can stand up alone.”^[1]

Sudarshan and I are now co-leaders of Midwest Zone, traveling long distances together encouraging other young men. I enjoy seeing the members, witnessing the growing friendships between the men and young men, and supporting youth throughout our organization. Being a friend to others is now the joy of my life.

A Friendship Built on Trust 

by Juan Sorto
Los Angeles, Calif.

I received the Gohonzon in August 2019, at a time when I was searching for some spiritual grounding. I was experiencing depression and other obstacles, and I really didn’t understand the meaning of my life.

In the SGI, I found people who were truly invested in my happiness. This included my men’s leader, Allen, who asked if we could meet once a week to chant and study together. I was reluctant at first to accept his invitation, but I really wanted to study The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin and found it difficult to do alone.

For the past year-and-a-half, we have met weekly to study Nichiren’s writings and Ikeda Sensei’s guidance, the World Tribune and other SGI-USA materials. One of the greatest treasures of our consistent one-to-one meetings is that we have developed deep trust and have become great friends. He has become my big brother, someone I can share my struggles with.

When we started meeting, I was having a difficult time at work being micromanaged by my boss. The environment wasn’t very positive. Allen and I studied Buddhism and chanted together and talked about our lives.

Then I began to see breakthroughs at my job. I feel like our friendship had a definite impact on my relationship with the people at work. Allen’s experiences and encouragement helped me change my attitude and stop blaming my environment for my difficulties. 

As a result, my relationship with my co-workers has transformed. And it was my internal change, my human revolution, that made that happen, based on strengthening my faith, practice and study. It didn’t happen overnight, but my life has changed and is continuing to change.

My vision now is to be someone who can encourage as many young men as possible—just as I have been encouraged by others—to face and tackle any obstacle. Just as my big brothers in faith have taught me, I want the young men to learn the importance of winning in their lives.

August 15, 2025 World Tribune, pp. 6–7