Authorlucy

by Gabriel ZuneMIAMI I grew up in Venezuela surrounded by a loving family who inspired me to go after my dreams, but I had a tough time realizing them because of my own insecurities. To many, I was seen as quiet and creative. But to others, I was a person who could be bullied and

Severing Attachments That Perpetuate Our Suffering Among the practices that Buddhists carry out is that of almsgiving. There are two types of almsgiving: the offering of goods and the offering of the Law. By engaging in both, we can overcome our sufferings and walk the direct path to Buddhahood. The offering of goods allows us to

A Buddhist perspective on financial hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a 2013 TV interview, Fred Rogers, the creator and host of the iconic preschool television series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, shared that when he was a boy and a tragic event occurred, his mother would say, “Look for the helpers.” It’s important to do so, he said, “because if you look for the helpers, you’ll

by Shirsa Udgata27 years oldPhiladelphia I used to hate myself because of how much I was compared to my sister. My relatives would always say: “Look at your sister. She’s so great. She’s amazing at her studies.” Things got worse for me when I moved to the United States in 2015. I had zero friends and even

Even though many parks are currently closed to the public, you can still enjoy their beauty up close. Go to artsandculture.google.com, then search “The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks.” Visitors, for instance, can get a virtual experience of flying over an active volcano in Hawaii, kayaking through icebergs in Alaska or swimming through the

As practice progresses and understanding grows, the three obstacles and four devils emerge in confusing form, vying with one another to interfere. … One should be neither influenced nor frightened by them. (“Letter to the Brothers,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 501) The “three obstacles and four devils” symbolize the internal and

Cherry trees herald the arrival of spring this year, blooming in brilliant profusion across the world. But did you know that for cherry trees to bloom in spring, the flower buds first form in the summer, and then enter a period of dormancy in autumn. These buds must go through the cold of winter to

by Oscar Villaseñor 22 years oldTucson, Ariz. In March, I celebrated my third year as an SGI member, and I feel so fortunate and amazed by what my Buddhist practice has done for me. Before encountering Buddhism, I had spiraled into a depression and isolated myself from everyone, including my own family. My mom’s friend

The following essay by SGI President Ikeda was originally published in the March 11 issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper. Weathering wind and snow, we are the flag bearers of the noble cause of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth; now standing solidly united, we hold high the banner of mission. •

by Jihii Jolly Correspondent NEW YORK, March 4—SGI members, friends and distinguished guests filled the main auditorium of the SGI-USA New York Culture Center for a lecture by noted climate scientist Alan Robock, on the climatic and humanitarian impacts of nuclear war. Dr. Robock, a distinguished professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers

SGI President Ikeda received an honorary doctorate of philosophy in education administration on Feb. 27 from Central Mindanao University in Bukidnon, Philippines, for his great contribution of advancing world peace through education. This brings his total number of academic honors (honorary professorships and honorary doctorates from educational institutions worldwide) to nearly 400. The award ceremony

My human revolution opened the path for me to accomplish a decadeslong dream. by Rodney Mitchell Phoenix The benefits I’ve received through my 32 years of Buddhist practice have been nothing short of amazing. One of the most enduring experiences has been my career as a lawyer. Inspired by SGI President Ikeda’s humanistic behavior when

The following is excerpted from Soka Gakkai Senior Vice President Yoshiki Tanigawa’s speech at an SGI-USA staff meeting on March 20. Filled With Courage and Conviction The times when we face intense suffering, difficulties and challenges are precisely when we must strengthen and deepen our prayers, and single-mindedly chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to see things through. This

by Adin Strauss SGI-USA General Director Many SGI members, especially those of us who’ve been practicing Buddhism for many years, have studied about the “protective forces” that we can summon through our practice. The “forces” we speak of are nothing other than the power of the Buddha and the Law that exist within our lives

Please refer to cdc.gov for further information on the new coronavirus (COVID-19) and how to prevent illness. The following symptoms may appear 2–14 days after exposure to COVID-19. How the Coronavirus Spreads The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly among people who

The World Tribune spoke with SGI-USA members who are medical professionals involved in the front-line response to the COVID-19 crisis to learn about their work and how they’re using their Buddhist practice to navigate through this critical time. Awakening the Bodhisattva Life Condition by Victoria Smith SGI-USA Doctors’ Division Women’s Leader Associate Medical DirectorKenner, La.

In the following excerpt from The New Human Revolution, SGI President Ikeda, who appears in the novel as Shin’ichi Yamamoto, offers guidance to student division members about transforming personality traits through Buddhist practice. “Unless we bring out the best sides of our character and inner tendencies, they can often become the cause of unhappiness. We

This essay from SGI President Ikeda’s series Treasures of the Four Seasons first appeared in the Dec. 1, 2018, issue of Boys and Girls Hope News, the Soka Gakkai’s monthly newspaper for the elementary school division. When the cold winter winds start to blow, swans, known as the “messengers of winter,” make their way to

In the Feb. 21World Tribune, we learned how the 67th high priest of Nichiren Shoshu, Nikken Abe, embodied the third powerful enemy whose function is to orchestrate an effort to dismantle the movement for kosen-rufu. In this article, we will learn about Nikken’s successor, 68th high priest Nichinyo Hayase, who has inherited this role of