The student division members across the country are striving at their place of mission to share Buddhism with their friends and on campus through their genuine friendships. This month, we will hear from two student division members who are leading the way in these efforts.
Good Friendships Starts from Being Open
Name: Kaiya Alger // City: Oakland, California
Living Buddhism: Hi Kaiya! Thank you for speaking with us. You started college last year with a fresh determination. Could you tell us about it?
Kaiya Alger: When I was back home in Maui, Hawaii, I’d always been nervous and scared to share Buddhism with my friends. It felt like I was hiding a part of myself, and I wanted to let go of that feeling when I came to college.
So when I moved to California to start college, I was determined to share about my Buddhist practice with all of the friends I made. I saw it as an opportunity to start fresh. I wanted to be open about who I am with anyone I met. I feel like being in the SGI community is a big part of who I am today. I think the key to making genuine friendships is to be open about ourselves and who we are. I think that’s why I’ve made so many good friends here.
Incredible! Your friends recently joined the youth event, Art and Buddhism. How did you invite your friends?
Kaiya: I was actually nervous to invite my friends to this event, but earlier in the month, my SGI leaders helped me put together a small get-together on campus. My friends got to meet some of my youth leaders who have been supporting me in my Buddhist practice. It was just a casual hang-out in the dorms, but it was a good opportunity to introduce my friends to the SGI community.
When I invited my friends shortly afterward for the event, Art and Buddhism, they were willing to come. Four of them came, and they were impressed by the strong community within the SGI. I’m really glad that’s what they took away, and I look forward to inviting them to our district discussion meetings. Whenever I come back from SGI meetings, my friends ask me what happened and if I enjoyed it. I’m fortunate to have supportive friends.
What is your determination this year?
Kaiya: My biggest determination is to start a campus club this fall semester. After the Art and Buddhism event, I introduced Buddhism to two art professors, and one of them showed a lot of interest. The professor asked if I thought about starting a campus club and offered to help me get it officially started. Other than that, it’s really about me making a lot of good friends here on campus.
It All Starts With Friendship
Name: Malhaar Jain // City: Boston, Massachusetts
Living Buddhism: To begin, could you share how you began practicing Buddhism?
Malhaar Jain:I grew up in a house where my parents practiced Nichiren Bud-
dhism. They always had me come to the district meetings since they were held at our home. But it was after I came to Boston for college and began living on my own that I started establishing my own Buddhist practice.
It was a change of scenery for me to see many youth practicing in Boston with all the universities here. That was different from what I saw in Minnesota where I grew up. I started supporting behind the scenes as a Gajokai member. Eventually I started asking on my own when the next meeting would be so that I could support.
What was your determination at the beginning of this year when you learned about the Peace Petition?
Malhaar: My new year’s resolution was to introduce two friends to Buddhism here in Boston. But I hadn’t taken action on it. I signed the Peace Petition in January and that encouraged me to actually take action instead of just hoping for it. I started reaching out to my friends right after I learned about the Peace Petition.
We are having more youth events open to the student division here in Boston. We don’t have a campus club at my college yet, but having these events for student division members and friends at the New England Buddhist Center has helped me easily invite my friends.
Wonderful! You recently had four of your friends join a youth event. Could you tell us about it?
Malhaar: We had a “Food, Friends and Jeopardy” event for students at the Buddhist center in February. I was nervous to invite my friends because I had no idea what they would think. Four of them came to the event, and I was excited that they were willing to expose themselves to that experience.
On the way back to campus on the train after the event, one of my friends was curious and kept asking me questions about the practice. First, I was just answering his questions, but then I shared with him about a local discussion meeting happening next month. He is now planning to join the meeting together with me.
I think it all starts with friendship. No matter what kind of activity it is, if we really foster a strong friendship, then introducing them to Buddhism becomes much easier and more natural.
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