On the Cover—New England

Andrew Knafel
Shaftsbury, Vermont
Farmer

Running a farm is challenging. You can do everything right, and then the weather sets you back to square one. This past summer, for instance, we had 36 inches of rain. It was hard on the soil and the morale. But our farming crew had great chemistry and worked through it.

When I started the farm, over 25 years ago, we farmed one acre and sold produce from a table under a maple tree. Today, we are an integral part of the community, with a crew of 25, farming 30 acres with a large farmstand. Beginning my mornings at 5 a.m. with abundant daimoku has kept me flexible through all the uncertainties of the pandemic and resolved to bring out the best from it. I chant for a harmonious crew and to serve our community by providing healthy food in a welcoming atmosphere.

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Geeta Shrestha
Marlborough, Massachusetts
Hair Salon Owner

For the past six years, I’ve owned a hair salon. Today, I have a regular clientele of 800, which is unheard of for a salon this young. When people come in, they say, “There’s something about this salon!” Every morning I chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to connect with each person, which gives me a youthful spirit.

“When you touch my hair, I feel so good!” people say. When a person feels good, they open up about their lives. I share how chanting has transformed my life. While we talk, the person transforms as well, relaxing, looking younger—especially if they get a coloring. A cut with a coloring transforms a person, taking 10 years off their face. That’s how I share my youthful spirit!