by Kyle Matthys
New York
I wasn’t necessarily searching for Buddhism—but I was searching for something.
At the time, I was in college in Copenhagen studying economics and environmental policy. On the surface, things looked exciting and full. I was even playing professional poker and preparing for a future in tech. But internally, I felt like I was trying to escape. I had just come out of a five-year relationship, and for the first time in a long time, I found myself asking deeper questions—about what I was doing with my life, what actually mattered and whether I was just moving from one thing to the next without any real sense of purpose.
That’s when my best friend introduced me to Buddhism.
At first, it wasn’t about practice—it was more philosophical. I took classes, explored the ideas and tried to understand it intellectually. I was drawn to it, but it still felt distant—like something I appreciated but hadn’t fully experienced. It wasn’t until I moved to New York that something shifted.
I met a woman at a sustainability conference who invited me to an SGI meeting. She simply said, “You should come by—it’s a good group of people.” And she was right.
From the moment I encountered the SGI, it felt like exactly what I had been looking for.
It wasn’t just the practice—it was the people. There was a warmth, an energy and a sincerity that stood out. People weren’t pretending their lives were perfect. They were real. They were working through challenges and supporting one another. And that spirit—of putting good into the world simply because it makes your world better—really stayed with me.
I began chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, and the effect was immediate. It’s hard to describe, but for me, chanting felt like this wave of calm and energy at the same time. I’d start chanting and find myself smiling. It’s like everything settled, and I could finally hear myself clearly. It became a daily check-in—a way to be honest with myself.
Around that time, everything in my life began to change. I transitioned out of my job and stepped into running a foundation that supports youth-led nonprofits around the world. Leading a team of nearly 100 people is something I couldn’t have imagined before. But chanting gave me the perspective to handle it—to know it’s OK not to have everything figured out in a single day, and to keep moving forward. More than anything, it helped me bounce back.
I’ve always been a positive person, but Buddhism made that positivity sustainable. It gave me a way to return to it, again and again, no matter what was happening.
The community has also been a huge part of my experience. There are people in the SGI who, when they call me, I get genuinely excited to answer. That kind of energy is contagious. It’s something I want to bring into every aspect of my life—not just within the organization, but everywhere. Through the SGI, I feel like I’ve really been introduced to New York—not just the city, but the people, the connections and the heart of it.
And it’s not just about what I’ve received—it’s about what I can give. Whether it’s volunteering, encouraging someone or simply showing up, I’ve realized that giving to others creates value in my own life. That opportunity to contribute is a gift.
Last year, I made the decision to receive the Gohonzon and became an SGI-USA member.
For me, it wasn’t a gradual decision—it felt immediate. It was a commitment to this practice and to myself. Since then, I’ve made chanting and attending meetings a priority in my life. It’s become my foundation. I still face challenges. But now, I choose what influences me. Buddhism is something I choose because it brings out the best in me.
When I think about the future, I don’t see a distant goal—I see the consistency of showing up each day. It’s like going to the gym: the hardest part isn’t lifting more weight, it’s simply the decision to keep going. In my Buddhist practice, it isn’t about perfection; it’s about choosing to keep growing and creating hope, day by day.
And that decision has changed everything for me.
April 17, 2026 World Tribune, p. 10
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