CategoryProfiles

by Cindy HetzelBeacon, New York After high school, I swooped away to New York City as a fashion model. A few years later, I started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, and my career took off. For most of my 22 years of Buddhist practice, I’ve gotten exactly what I’ve chanted for, but I hit a major wall at

by Swati Basu San Francisco When I lost my job in June 2020, I was forced to think outside the box amid the COVID-19 situation. I always had the dream of opening my own small business that would allow me to apply my skills and creativity. In the pandemic, I had rekindled my passion for

by Crystal Mae Fraser 32 years old Denver A really pivotal moment was in my first year of Buddhist practice in 2014. At that time, I began to love myself for who I was and came out to my family as a lesbian. For so long, I had been fearful of not being accepted, but

by Katy Saini 34 years old Centreville, VA. When I was 9 months old, I contracted bacterial meningitis and lost my hearing permanently. This experience eventually led me to become a teacher for deaf and hard of hearing children and those with other disabilities. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, I decided that my

by Michael Silvestre33 years oldOverland Park, Kan. In high school, I struggled with depression and tried to commit suicide. My brother began dragging me to SGI meetings, and I felt stronger and more hopeful through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Instead of just complaining about my problems, I became proactive toward overcoming them. In 2009, the year I received the

by Stuart Adams26 years oldAlameda, Calif. I was enrolled in the fire academy and working as an emergency medical technician when the coronavirus pandemic hit. With a local outbreak, I was transporting people confirmed to have or suspected of having COVID-19 on each shift. With a grueling schedule, I often slept at the ambulance station. Every time

by Nhi Truong30 years oldPompano, Fla. As an international student from Vietnam studying in the United States, I really struggled with low self-esteem, and because of the language barrier, it was hard for me to connect with others. I felt like no one understood me, not even my aunt who helped me move to the U.S.

by Briana Bell18 years oldDallas Recently, I was scrolling on Instagram and came across a petition advocating for large dancewear companies to make ballerina pointe shoes in various shades of brown for Black people and other people of color. Pointe shoes are typically European pink and made for white ballerinas. The petition only had a few signatures,

From a Person of Despair to Mission by Tracey VangPhoenix In September 2018, my friend introduced me to the SGI. I was going through a lot then; I had challenges connecting to my family, struggled with my career and put my dream of becoming a nurse on hold. I began chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo here and there, and

During the COVID-19 pandemic, SGI-USA members have been courageously sharing their Buddhist practice. And while in-person meetings have not occurred since early March, many friends of members have been joining our virtual gatherings, subscribing to SGI-USA publications and beginning to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo consistently. The following are interviews with individuals who have recently started their journey

by Monica Ong The following was originally published on July 3 on tricycle.org as an audio poem read by poets Monica Ong and Randall Horton. Monica is a professional poet as well as an SGI-USA member. I wrote “Yellow Insomnia” during my own relapse of sleeplessness shortly after the murder of George Floyd. Written for two voices, the

by Cameron WashingtonLos Angeles When I started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in 2008, I had just gone through a breakup, graduated from college and felt the mounting pressure and expectation to get a job. All the while, I was at a loss as to what my future would hold. I was searching aimlessly for some sense of purpose and

by Shreya Khuntia29 years oldWashington, D.C. I am an infectious disease epidemiologist, which is like a disease detective, and work at a health department that works closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, I talk to a lot of people who have the coronavirus and try

by Dion Moore26 years oldWashington, D.C. The first time I went to nursing school, I was just seeking a career to sustain myself. Because I was struggling financially and wasn’t serious, I flunked out. The second time, about one year later, I realized that the only way to graduate from my program was to understand my mission

by Dwayne WilsonSouthern California North Zone Men’s Leader When I saw the video of George Floyd’s murder, I was angry. As a Black man in America, I know what it feels like to be treated less than and have to deal with racial incidents.  I’ve been stopped by the police for just walking down the street or

by Joyce Wang24 years oldCupertino, Calif. In my final semester of college in 2017, I had a full-blown manic episode. I had been introduced to Buddhism a couple weeks earlier by a fellow student, who told me that I could activate my Buddha nature by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. I remembered his words during my episode and began chanting.

by Manav Mehta27 years oldChicago I grew up praying to external deities to solve my problems. I often begged for my wishes to be realized instead of taking action myself. When things didn’t happen in my favor, I’d call myself unlucky and blame others for my unhappiness. My girlfriend, on the other hand, was hopeful and

by Lylette Primell RussellGrenada District Unit Women’s LeaderNonpareil, Grenada I run a 13-acre farm on the island of Grenada, making organic cocoa together with my husband, Kim. Living in the Caribbean, we are used to natural disasters, so when we heard about COVID-19, we started preparing right away. We had to practice self-sufficiency to ensure the future of