This month, we will study Ikeda Sensei’s guidance on how to keep pushing forward even when we feel less motivated to work toward our goals.
Feeling stuck, unmotivated and burned out? We all have those days—and it’s natural to feel so when you’re juggling academic demands, club activities and jobs. You may wish for another hour in the day or to clone yourself in order to multitask, but you don’t need to wish for such fantasies.
Challenging ourselves to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo daily to the Gohonzon empowers us with the unlimited life force to advance with vigor and joy! Ikeda Sensei writes:
Life is a struggle with ourselves. It is a tug-of-war between moving forward and regressing, between happiness and unhappiness. Those short on will-power or self-motivation should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with conviction to become people of strong will, who can tackle any problem with real seriousness and determination. (Discussions on Youth, new edition, p. 98)
As Sensei says, chanting even just a little bit in front of the Gohonzon is one small step to challenge ourselves. Mornings often define the rest of the day, and a succession of unsatisfactory mornings leads to a succession of unproductive days. This is why we emphasize “winning in the morning” in our Buddhist practice.
If you are always rushing to go to classes in the morning, you can try to wake up just 15 minutes earlier to do morning gongyo. Want to keep your energy high throughout the day? Chanting vigorous daimoku starts the day off strong and fresh! It’s like taking your life force to the gym—every time you make a cause to win in the morning, the stronger and happier you become.
Winners are those who constantly renew their determinations, and live a life of lasting happiness in the long-run. Doing gongyo and engaging in SGI activities—like studying, encouraging our fellow members and sharing Buddhism with our friends—allow us to continuously challenge ourselves and solidify within us a spirit to never be defeated.
About advancing with fresh determination, Sensei states:
As human beings, we tend to give in to inertia, no matter how strong our determination initially may be. When this happens, though we may appear to be making great efforts, in actuality, we lose our momentum and end up getting nowhere. What enables us to break out of this stalemate is the spirit of challenge, the spirit that everything begins from now, from today. I hope that you will always maintain vibrant faith that ever brims with fresh hope.” (The New Human Revolution, vol. 12, revised edition, p. 79)
No matter what difficulties or impasse we face, a person of strong faith can always make a fresh determination to forge ahead. Others will undoubtedly be inspired by our efforts to continually challenge ourselves, sending ripple effects of hope and vigor into our environment.
—Prepared by the SGI-USA Student Division
Empowering One Another With Genuine Care
Name: Shreepriya Sengupta
City: Madison, Wisconsin
School: University of Wisconsin–Madison
Living Buddhism: Hi Shreepriya. Thank you for speaking with us. How did you start practicing Buddhism?
Shreepriya Sengupta: My parents were introduced to Nichiren Buddhism when I was at a young age. Growing up, I would regularly attend SGI meetings with them. From high school to college, I was constantly focused on my goals and often didn’t have time to rest. I did it out of a fear of failure, which quickly led to feeling burned out.
Around my sophomore to junior year of high school, I began seriously chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and studying Buddhism regularly. This gradually gave me the wisdom to not worry so much about the future but rather to focus on what is important to me in the moment. As I experienced this shift, I felt a genuine appreciation for this Buddhist practice.
What made you decide to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison?
Shreepriya: I applied to many colleges and received many acceptances, but I still felt lost and unclear about the future. I chanted that I would find and choose the school that was the right option for me, both academically and financially. Ultimately, I received an acceptance from UW–Madison and was offered a full four-year scholarship! I’m currently studying global health and public policy.
That’s amazing! You are the president of the SGI campus club there. How has that been?
Shreepriya: When I entered UW–Madison, the campus club had been inactive for eight years, so it had to be rebuilt from scratch. Together with the support from the SGI members practicing in the community, I set up an information table at events and created joyful biweekly campus club meetings. At our first event at a student organization fair, we were able to connect with over 50 students who showed interest and joined the email list for the club!
What are your biweekly club meetings like?
Shreepriya: The first meeting of the month is more casual and brings us together. We’ve had picnics where we ate together, played games and got to know one another on a personal level. In the second meeting, we have a study topic that is centered on common challenges college students face. Some topics we have discussed were “What is the meaning of my struggles?” and “How to master time through a Buddhist approach.” Sometimes, we just open Discussions on Youth to a random page, and that becomes our topic.
Why do you think the campus club is important for students today?
Shreepriya: College can be overwhelming, and many students are navigating stress, fear and questions about their future. This club has taught me the power of connecting with others who are facing similar struggles and how we are fostering compassion through dialogue. I think campus clubs empower students to support one another and help shape a future based on compassion.
Have there been any students that decided to begin their Buddhist practice from joining your campus club activities?
Shreepriya: Yes, there have been several students that were introduced through the campus club and went on to start their Buddhist practice. I made a friend through the campus club in my first year, but they eventually stopped coming out. Despite this, I continued to reach out to them and stayed in touch. When they saw that I genuinely cared for them, they began to open up more. This naturally led to them asking more about my Buddhist practice.
I started studying introductory material with them, chanting with them and bringing them out to SGI meetings. They felt a lot of support from the local SGI members and felt accepted for who they truly were and eventually became a member.
Congratulations! What is your determination for the remainder of your time at UW–Madison?
Shreepriya: Starting from a place of genuine friendship, I am determined to support three campus club friends to start practicing Buddhism. I’m also committed to supporting my friend in strengthening faith in their Buddhist practice. Seeing so many bright and capable students on campus, I’m determined to expand our club to help transform society. For my own future, I plan on pursuing a master’s degree in public health with a focus on epidemiology. My aim is to amplify the voices of
underrepresented and marginalized communities.
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