Buddhability
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Top 10 Buddhability Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Buddhability episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Buddhability for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Buddhability episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
01/03/25 • 58 min
We all have narratives we tell ourselves about what is possible for our lives. Today’s guest, Jackie Alexander, of Chicago, shares how she overcame limiting beliefs about the kind of student and person she was. We discuss how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo about everything from housing, to money, to graduate school led to Jackie’s newfound self-confidence.
Today’s episode is also available in video format on our YouTube Channel.
References
You Were Born to Win, p. 5
The New Human Revolution, vol. 26, p. 46
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How my daily ups and downs led to overall growth
Buddhability
04/20/23 • 45 min
Today, we’re talking about what it really takes to build a foundation for your life. It’s a theme we’ve explored before on the show but one that looks different for all of us. Our guest is George Wong, of San Francisco, California, who shares how his Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo has allowed him to turn his difficulties with school and self-worth into a career creating value from every experience.
SHOW NOTES:
2:44 Getting rejected from college inspires George to start practicing Buddhism
10:44 Previous setback turns into a great breakthrough
16:55 Struggling with impostor syndrome
25:48 Importance of never giving up, even if you’re not sure where you’re headed
32:13 Seeing long-term growth despite daily ups and downs
35:43 Each experience has deep meaning
How to stop comparing yourself to others
Buddhability
04/03/21 • 33 min
Today we are discussing a question that comes up a lot: How do I stop comparing myself to other people? It can be a real struggle, especially if you feel like the people around you are better or farther ahead than you in some way. Here’s an article we did on the subject, called Feel like you're falling behind?
Our guest today is Harrison Tsao, who started practicing Buddhism in high school because he was deeply struggling with anxiety and depression, stemming from the fact that he found school really challenging, and was constantly being compared to his twin brother. It’s a really inspiring story: Once he started chanting, he took steady steps to find his own path forward and discovered his dream of becoming a chef. Then Covid-19 happened. Still, he never gave up. (You're gonna wanna to listen to the end on this one.)
Cheat Sheet
00:13 Introduction to today’s topic
2:17 Why Harrison started practicing Buddhism
6:45 What it was like growing up as a twin
9:41 His journey toward college and finding his dream
15:41 How Covid-19 impacted his path
18:32 How having a Buddhist community helped him navigate his path forward
22:28 The quote that changed his life
24:38 How he started setting goals for himself
29:59 Advice for anyone who feels like other people are farther ahead in life
31:59 Where Harrison is now
03/29/24 • 13 min
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept that we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re talking about how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo brings out the characteristics needed to make authentic relationships that last.
To ask a question about the basics of Buddhism, you can email us at [email protected]
References:
The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, pp. 106–07.
Discussions on Youth, pp. 39–40, 117–18, 283–84.
https://www.worldtribune.org/2023/overcoming-loneliness/ <accessed on March 28, 2024>.
Tips and Insights: The Oneness of Body and Mind
Buddhability
08/24/22 • 10 min
“Tips & Insights” new episode series in which we’ll introduce one Buddhist concept each month and how it can be applied to your life!
Today’s is: the oneness of body and mind.
References:
Overcoming trauma and finding the will to live
Buddhability
11/01/21 • 46 min
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses trauma and attempted suicide.
Today’s episode is about mental health. Our guest is Tanushree Salvi of Boise, Idaho, who started her practice of SGI Nichiren Buddhism when she came to the U.S. for school and was introduced to chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo by a college roommate.
Tanushree shares the story of how she was able to take the steps to take care of her own mental health through a combination of professional support and her Buddhist practice, as well as how she learned to value her own life and unique beauty.
CHEAT SHEET
1:02 Introduction to Tanushree
2:18 How she started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
6:18 The first changes she witnessed in herself
13:09 Tanushree’s struggle with her mental health
15:10 The steps she took after being hospitalized
17:28 How she found the right therapist
20:01 How her inner determination to heal impacted her environment
21:54 What “kosen-rufu” means and how it helps us give meaning to our struggles
27:18 How she used Buddhism and therapy to heal
32:32 What it takes to have compassion for yourself
34:49 How she’s doing now
41:28 Her favorite Buddhist concept (see: The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, pg. 125-6)
43:46 Advice for anyone currently struggling with their mental health
45:40 A closing quote from Ikeda
References mentioned:
Breaking Free from Self-Imposed Limitations
Buddhability
12/15/23 • 49 min
Believing that we each possess limitless wisdom, courage and compassion—what we call Buddhability—can be a daily battle. Many of us impose limitations on ourselves, believing that we’re not capable of accomplishing our dreams and becoming happy.
Today’s guest, Daniel Sun, of Boston, shares how he used Buddhism to overcome his limiting beliefs and become an accomplished Harvard scientist and scholar. We discuss the key role chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and studying Buddhism played in his ability to shift his mindset.
Cheat Sheet:
7:20 Daniel tries Buddhism to get through graduate school
11:05 Dreaming of a research career in the U.S.
21:03 What Buddhism says about self-doubt
33:56 Fresh confidence to apply for a large grant
43:46 How studying maximizes the effects of Buddhist chanting
References mentioned:
A Piece of Mirror and Other Essays, pp. 39-43
The Hope-Filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 133
The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, pp. 3–4
The Light of Learning, p. 130
What wellness really means
Buddhability
09/07/22 • 52 min
Today we're talking about what wellness really means from a Buddhist perspective. Our guest is Erica Stein, L.A.-based co-host of the podcast Courageous Wellness, and Buddhist practitioner. We cover everything from the powerful experiences that led to Erica beginning her own practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, to what she’s learned about wellness through producing her podcast.
CHEAT SHEET
1:55 How Erica started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
3:01 The family struggles that taught her the value of Buddhism
9:16 Erica’s own struggle with weight that led to a wellness journey
20:03 What it means to treasure your life
22:11 Overcoming body dysmorphia
27:22 The power of community
30:07 How to learn how to take care of yourself
33:08 Helping others is self-care
34:02 How her wellness journey inspires her work
42:07 Connections between wellness and Buddhism
45:03 Turning poison into medicine
50:22 Advice for anyone who is struggling with their wellness journey
References
What you do isn’t who you are [November 2021]
Buddhability
07/20/22 • 56 min
During the month of July, we're on short break and playing re-runs of our most popular episodes from the archives. We'll be back with brand new episodes the first Wednesday in August. This episode originally aired November 2021.
Today we speak with Los Angeles-based actor Luca Manganaro, who shares his intertwined journey with acting and Buddhism and the lessons he learned along the way.
Key takeaway: what you do, especially if you’re currently pursuing a big dream or goal that seems far away, isn’t who you are. Who you are is based on what you practice every day, how you show up in relationships, how you treat the people around you and what you base your self-worth on.
CHEAT SHEET
1:46 How Luca started practicing Buddhism
6:03 How chanting helped him transform a lifelong health challenge
13:27 How he decided to pursue acting in New York
21:05 What Buddhism taught him about dealing with the ups and downs of the business
30:25 Why he believes in having a Buddhist mentor
36:02 How he developed a foundation for his life through community
42:41 What caring for other people has to do with our own growth
51:27 Advice for anyone new to Buddhism who wants to feel fulfilled
Mentioned references:
03/01/23 • 48 min
Today we are talking about one of the most difficult but universal tendencies we experience—people-pleasing. Our guest is Megan Weinstein, of Chicago, who shares about her journey practicing Buddhism and how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped her identify and tackle the feelings that, for too long, led her to live her life based on other people’s opinions.
For anyone who has ever felt like they are supposed to show up in a certain way, rather than as your true precious self, this episode is for you.
SHOW NOTES
3:43 Megan’s first breakthrough from practicing Buddhism
8:36 The need to please everyone in her environment
19:31 A Buddhist friend gives Megan advice
21:42 Rooting out the need for validation through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
32:46 Caring for others while caring for herself
35:00 Everything starts to change
46:53 Advice for those just starting to give Buddhism a try
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FAQ
How many episodes does Buddhability have?
Buddhability currently has 197 episodes available.
What topics does Buddhability cover?
The podcast is about Health & Fitness, Buddhism, Self-Help, Mental Health, Religion & Spirituality and Podcasts.
What is the most popular episode on Buddhability?
The episode title 'Rewriting The Story I Tell Myself About Who I Am and Who I Can Be' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Buddhability?
The average episode length on Buddhability is 37 minutes.
How often are episodes of Buddhability released?
Episodes of Buddhability are typically released every 7 days, 2 hours.
When was the first episode of Buddhability?
The first episode of Buddhability was released on Sep 29, 2020.
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