A Connection Revolution

It is our hope that through these efforts grounded in our neighborhood gatherings, we will strengthen our grassroots communities as a solid force for peace, made up of countless people engaging in their human revolution. 

As you will read in the following profiles, young people are seeking communities like the SGI—a safe space that provides friendship, a shoulder to lean on, and courage and hope for the future. We are determined that our focus on home visits and discussion meetings will spur a revolution in connection that will spread throughout our communities, the country and the world. 

Together, let’s create waves of hope in March, starting with the youth!

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How Youth Are Developing Their Districts and Communities

Everything Starts With Prayer

Name:Takako Funaki • City: Aliso Viejo, Calif. 

District: Aliso Niguel District 

Living Buddhism: You grew up in the SGI and have been a young women’s division (YWD) district leader in your current district for three years. What does the district mean to you?

The district is my family, my core and my treasure. It’s where we get to see proof of practicing Buddhism in the diverse lives of the people who attend. Whatever life condition I am in, it’s a home I can go back to, a place where I’m always embraced. 

As a YWD district leader, I chant every day that the members of Aliso Niguel feel that they belong and can call our district home, too.

We all have tendencies. Mine is to feel like I’m all alone and disconnected from the world. I received guidance once that when I’m feeling low, I can think about the district members who may be feeling the same. So, the times I feel the worst are actually the times I reach out to others the most. It enables me to chant for the members’ happiness as well as my own. 

Being with my district family is where I feel the most powerful. It’s the place I feel Ikeda Sensei’s heart the most because I know that even at my lowest, someone from my district is chanting for me and believes in my happiness. 

Wow. You reach out to others when you are feeling down. Is it easy for you to extend a hand at those times?

For me, everything starts with prayer to the Gohonzon. I’m not really a brave person so I need to muster up courage to reach out to people and develop friendships with them. 

But I want to be the type of friend that no matter what life state I’m in or the other person is in, I can embrace them wholeheartedly the way my district members and my friends embrace me. I believe that takes me building a solid foundation of faith so that I’m not easily swayed. 

This year, the SGI-USA is emphasizing building relationships with those in the community. How do you engage with the people in yours?

I’ve been reminding myself that everyone is striving their hardest and dedicating all of their energy to become the happiest. Whenever I try to connect with people with this understanding as my base, I naturally feel so much joy.

Seeing others’ smiling faces, my life condition immediately rises. I want to have that impact on people in my community, both within and outside the SGI.

Recently, I was riding in an Uber. Our driver was from Los Angeles. We ended up having a conversation about the fires in LA. When she was speaking, she shared about her worries for her family, but she still had so much hope for humanity. I wanted to leave her with the same light she gave me, so I shared Buddhism. I handed her a Nam-myoho-renge-kyo card and scrambled to think of what to say. I told her that she could chant if ever she felt like she was losing hope and it would give her courage. She put it on her dashboard and chanted a few times. 

The entire interaction was 15 minutes, but those 15 minutes made such an impact on me, and I hope it made an impact on her as well. 

What kind of efforts are you making toward your March discussion meeting?

I was thinking about the youth that haven’t been coming out lately. Of course I will continue reaching out to them, but I realized that without daimoku they won’t be able to feel my heart to connect to them. I’m chanting that each person feels my sincerity. I think it all rests with my constant effort to build friendship. I try not to reach out just when meetings are coming up, but I’m committed to consistently checking in. 

As a district we are uniting with each other and with Sensei’s heart to create the most joyful meeting for all those who attend!

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Smiling Again

Name: Lorrin Graham • City: Gulfport, Mississippi 

District: Bay West District 

Living Buddhism: How were you introduced to Buddhism?

My mother was struggling with my demeanor as an adolescent child so she took it upon herself to find a community when I was 12. She had been introduced to Buddhism before but never practiced. She received the Gohonzon and started bringing me to district meetings in Austin, Texas. I’ve practiced ever since. 

When I ask her about it now, she tells me that after her and my father divorced, I hardly ever smiled. She started chanting because she didn’t know how to help me. 

What was going on for you at the time? 

Even at 10, I was in despair and disappointed that my parents were separated. I wasn’t like the other kids, and I just wanted to be normal and fit in. I shut down and kept to myself a lot. After I started going to SGI meetings with my mom, the world started looking lighter. I was becoming happier. I started smiling again.

One of the young men’s division leaders really made an impact on me. He was always happy. I felt that if I practiced Buddhism, I could definitely become happy, like him. 

That’s wonderful that the SGI had such an impact on you at a young age. Can you tell us what your district means to you?

I’m in the Navy, so I move around a lot, and it can become lonely. I was stationed in Mississippi in April 2024. Prior to this, I was in Japan and before Japan, I was in Virginia. Being a part of a district is like having an extended family with people I can talk to and depend on. It’s a warm feeling. 

I have a hard time sharing my struggles openly with others, but even then, the members of the district have been able to support me in crucial times. A few years ago, I was struggling to conquer some of my deepest fears and the men’s leader of the district encouraged me. I’ll never forget feeling acknowledged for what I was going through and empowered to challenge myself.  

That’s wonderful. Being in the military, you belong to a very unique and strong community. How do you engage with your peers?

Yes. I belong to a very tight-knit community. It can be strict, but when things get tough, you always have someone to pick you up. I try to be that person for others. 

During one of my trainings, I shared that I was a Buddhist and everyone thought it was so cool. I told them about chanting and I got the nickname “Buddha.” I felt like I had to really internalize and reflect the spirit of a Buddha in my behavior. 

Although I have to build new relationships with my frequent moves, the bonds I’ve created are unbreakable. 

What is your vision toward your March discussion meeting?

We have a small district, but I’m determined to have a discussion meeting where youth can share openly and build each other up. Youth are struggling with all kinds of things like finances and relationships. I see it as an opportunity to build a strong foundation so that we can continue to build up for the future. Many communities dry up and don’t survive because they don’t foster young people but based on the examples of our first three Soka Gakkai presidents, we will keep expanding toward the future.  

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Creating Value Out of Suffering

Name:Vivian Suhanosky • City: Brookline, Massachusetts

District: Brookline-President District 

Living Buddhism: We heard that you grew up in your district. Can you tell us about it?

Most of the members have known me since I was in middle school. This feels really important to me because they’ve seen a lot of phases of my life. Last year is when I started to understand how important it is to have a space where I feel like I can show up however I am. No matter how anxious I feel or if I’m having an awful day, I can still come to a meeting and be accepted just as I am. 

It’s a safe space made up of wonderful people of all age groups. I’m so fortunate because I don’t have many other spaces in my life where I get to connect with people from different ages and walks of life. The amazing thing is that we are all united around the same goal of world peace and happiness in our community and that’s a wonderful thing to be a part of. Each person is striving in their own unique way.

What does that look like?

In our district, some of us are students, some are librarians, some work at media centers, and others at hospitals. We are all playing a part in our workplaces with the determination to show up as a Buddha each day. We each have our own lives in our little town, and I believe because of this determination we’ve been slowly but surely strengthening our community. It seems simple, but it’s profound. That’s how we are creating peace just where we are.

One of the hallmarks of the SGI community is the deep bonds we forge with each other. Was there a time when a friend in the SGI helped you through a hard time?

Last year, 2024, was a record breaking low point in my life. I was deeply suffering with my mental and physical health. At my lowest, I couldn’t be outside for longer than half an hour. But every week, I was meeting with a women’s division member in my chapter. Sometimes multiple times a week. The women cared for me without any hesitation, with open arms, and I felt like I could call or text them in whatever state I was in. When we would meet, they deeply listened to me and would remind me to chant. That was really important for me because I felt like I was suffering from an invisible obstacle, the only thing that felt right was to chant. They empowered me at a time when I really needed it. 

I don’t think I have people like that outside of the SGI. After every visit, I felt like I was sent back into the world with new hope and encouragement to keep going. Through chanting and fighting through my anxiety, I’ve been able to create value out of my suffering.

Is that the kind of friend you strive to be for others?

Absolutely. I try to put people at ease and make them feel comfortable. I want to be a friend who listens, someone people know they can turn to in any state of life. I want my friendships to be based on the desire for each person to become absolutely happy. 

I just recently signed up for an adult education class which I’m really excited about because I’ll be able to reach people who are in a similar position in life. 

What kind of March discussion meetings do you hope to have?

I want it to be really joyful and for there to be a lot of laughter. I want everyone to participate in some way and for people to stick around after to connect. I want everyone to feel heard and whatever we’re talking about to resonate with every person that comes. 

In society, I feel youth are disregarded and not really listened to, but in the SGI, the youth are really cherished. It is an amazing feeling. The discussion meetings are a place where we can create value out of suffering—it can change so many people’s lives. 

From the March 2025 Living Buddhism