Becoming Leaders of Happiness

Founding Soka Gakkai President Tsunesaburo Makiguchi referred to them as “Discussion Meetings for the Empirical Verification of the Life of Great Good.” Just as this name suggests, each meeting is an opportunity for us to share actual proof of our victories and benefits and refuel toward the next meeting. 

Sensei said: 

Small gatherings are important. Small, inconspicuous gatherings—discussion meetings, home visits and personal guidance—are what really matter. 

Truly capable leaders are those who can engage others, on a one-to-one basis, in inspiring dialogue and move them with warmhearted encouragement to set forth with renewed determination in faith. Determination inspired in this way tends to last. It becomes a catalyst, causing a ripple effect that spreads out to touch many, many others. (December 20, 2024, World Tribune, p. 3)

By redoubling our commitment to engage with others and have wonderful district gatherings, we can create a powerful ripple effect of hope and courage in this new year, which seems more important now than ever!

In the following discussion, we can learn from Lisandra, Erica, Micaela and Anushka—incredible district women’s leaders who are putting Sensei’s words into action and spreading hope and happiness in their communities. 

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Living Buddhism: Thank you for speaking with us about the significance of our districts. From the Soka Gakkai’s inception, discussion meetings have been its foundation. From one perspective, people might find these gatherings quite ordinary. What do you think makes them unique?    

Lisandra Rebello (Grant Park District, Chicago): My Buddhist journey started in 2020. Meeting in person, connecting in one of our members’ homes and building community has been very meaningful. 

As a newer member, I can say that you don’t often find a group of people who are actively working on themselves and striving to become better people—that’s not the intent of most gatherings. Some really awesome dialogues happen in our intimate district setting.

Erica Stein-Freedman (Agoura Westlake District, Oak Park, Calif.): As someone who grew up in the Garden of Soka, I feel the same way. Especially in 2024, I felt the significance of the district community. 

Last year was a tough year for many of the members of our district. One of the members was defrauded and almost lost everything. Others dealt with the loss of loved ones and difficult family dynamics. But through it all we came together and supported one another with daimoku and Sensei’s guidance. Struggling is inevitable in life, but we don’t do it alone in Agoura Westlake District. 

For myself personally, last year was incredibly challenging. My father-in-law passed in May and my mother, who had been a longtime practitioner, passed away unexpectedly in July. While she was in the hospital for 30 days, my district held chanting sessions and rallied around me to support me and my family. While it was incredibly painful, I deeply felt that my mother won at the end of her life. I couldn’t have survived that time without my district. 

Belonging to our SGI community is so impactful. Many of us have a full plate—family, work, day-to-day demands. What do you think is the benefit we gain from engaging in our districts?

Micaela Castellotti (Biscayne Park District , Miami): I’m a wife, actress, singer, musical theater teacher and real estate agent. I also opened my theater and film nonprofit two years ago, and last year our nonprofit produced a show. In my work as a real estate agent, I have experienced great success. Every aspect of my life is thriving, and I believe it is because I am united with the members of Biscayne Park to expand our district! Taking part in SGI activities and supporting the members of the district, especially while busy, has expanded and revolutionized my life.

As a district, we gather every month to chant half an hour or more and plan for our discussion meeting. Most months, there are more than 20 people in attendance at our planning meetings. If there are guests, they turn into introduction to Buddhism meetings! This rhythm of chanting and planning together creates great momentum! As a result, we welcomed 11 new members in 2024, and our members are winning in their lives!

Anushka Bhartiya (North Mission Peak District, Fremont, Calif.): I’ve had a similar experience. When I had my daughter eight years ago, I struggled with postpartum depression. When I was asked to take on district women’s responsibility in 2023, I was nervous because my depression can make my hard days really hard. How am I going to support others when I couldn’t support myself, I thought. But my leaders were so compassionate and gave me confidence in my potential. 

Every morning, I pray that I’m able to support kosen-rufu on behalf of Sensei. 

I still have my hard days but because I’m meeting with a member that day, for example, I can get out of bed and show up for that person. Before, I would have simply stayed in bed. So, for me, more than me supporting the members, I think my district has helped me support myself to transcend my own limitations and strengthen my life. 

I share openly about my mental health during meetings and home visits and many members relate to it. The biggest benefit is that now I have conviction that my struggle is my mission. I am supposed to go through this and be victorious for the sake of kosen-rufu, for the sake of the members. 

Our district gatherings are my safe space. It’s that non-judgmental place for me to be myself. I think most of us carry secrets, things we shy away from sharing with others because we are not sure how others will react.  But the SGI is a place where I feel free to share my heart. I believe all of the members of North Mission Peak feel the same. 

Sounds like creating this kind of atmosphere is really the goal.

Erica: I believe so. When I get to be around the members of my district, it feels like coming home. It has become my family. We don’t focus so much on formalities, but rather, how people feel when they walk into our district. We strive to create a warm environment where everyone feels welcome. 

Most importantly, the members look forward to our meetings and feel a desire to bring their friends. At every discussion meeting we welcome new faces. At our November general meeting last year, we welcomed nine guests! 

As a new district women’s leader, I focused on meeting with the members one to one. Slowly but surely, we created strong bonds of friendship and trust, which permeates our district meetings. 

Lisandra: Yes, the district has been a place of healing. I have been on the other end, receiving the care and support of my district leaders. Early in my journey, the women’s leaders came to visit me. And it built trust. People I didn’t know wanted to come over and just have sincere, encouraging conversations centered around my growth and transformation. It made me want to be a better person. Through their support, I wanted to become someone who could support others, too. Now, as a district leader, I also try to meet with the members and encourage them, just as my seniors in faith did for me.

When I first started chanting, I was caught in a cycle of abusive relationships. Chanting became my lifeline. I began chanting daily, sometimes for hours, desperately hoping for a way out of the abuse. The more I chanted and got involved in district activities, the more I recognized my own value, and my inner strength emerged. I was able to completely transform that and now I’m married to a wonderful man who supports me unconditionally. 

My past impacted many of my family members, but my son suffered the most. Through my inner transformation, we have rebuilt our relationship. Now as a member of the district, he is sharing Buddhism naturally with his friends. Youth have so much power!

Anushka: Absolutely! We have many future division members, and we do our best to involve them every month by asking them to participate in our meetings, by being emcee, for example. We also do activities with them outside of the district meeting. In May, we made mud pies with the future division members and studied the Buddhist story of Virtue Victorious and his offering of the mud pie to the Buddha. We strive to connect our youngest members to Sensei because they are the ones who will carry our movement forward.

Through your individual stories, it’s evident that meeting one to one, caring for one another is essential. Any closing thoughts or practical tips you’d like to part with?

Micaela: For me, it comes down to connecting with Sensei’s heart through prayer. When I think of how hard Sensei fought to build this movement, I am reenergized and can do my best to support the district. I can fight another day for the happiness of the people around me—for kosen-rufu. 

I think it’s also important to never forget about the members who are not coming out. There was a young woman who stopped practicing a couple years ago. When I joined the district, I determined to visit her. When we met, I shared with her the challenges that I faced as a youth and all the things that I transformed in my life. She started practicing again and had many amazing experiences in 2024!

Anushka: I agree. When I’m doing a home visit, I do my best to connect the person to Sensei, to the rhythm of the SGI. As long as they have those things and can remember their vow with Sensei, they can break through and overcome anything!  

Unity through prayer is also important—prayer for youth to emerge, to raise them and prayer for the victory of each person in the district. 

Erica: Yes. As a district we have united prayers and make many goals! We also try to be creative. For example, we started doing icebreakers as a way for the members to get to know each other, and we almost always have a musical performance. But most of all we pray to bring Sensei’s heart into the district and for the members to become happy and win! Everything starts with prayer. 

We just want to continue to grow. Grow with happiness—become leaders of happiness.

From the February 2025 Living Buddhism