CategoryExperience

Kathy Vichakchon DiFrancescoDALLAS Living Buddhism: Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Kathy. What was your life like before you started your Buddhist practice? Kathy Vichakchon DiFrancesco: It is an honor to share my experience. I never thought that my experience would encourage others. My parents met in New York after they both emigrated

Winning means living with joy throughout the process of challenging all our struggles.

How courageous action in faith created momentum and power. by Anthony Stone TAMPA, FLA. Growing up in a family that practiced Nichiren Buddhism, I enjoyed SGI activities for many years. After graduating into the men’s division in 2013, I began working graveyard shifts, and my practice suffered. I thought being a “good” husband and father

How living based on the oneness of mentor and disciple helped me transform my despair into hope. by Yoko CravenWest Columbia, S.C When I was 5 years old, my parents divorced, and my mother lost all hope. She tried to kill me, but I was able to escape. She then committed suicide right in front

Enrique MaganBrooklyn, New York Living Buddhism: Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Enrique. What was your life like before you started practicing Buddhism? Enrique Magan: My family was very poor, so I decided to brave the journey to the United States to help support us financially. I moved to Brooklyn, New York, from

by Robert Fisher Los Angeles I grew up the oldest of eight siblings in a working-class neighborhood in west Philadelphia. My parents instilled in us a sense of justice and self-respect, and showed us that we were not less than others, although society told us otherwise. The day I turned 6, my baby brother died.

by Tammi AsayPhoenix For as long as I can remember, I have struggled with my health. At 4 years old, I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Some days, I felt well enough to go to recess with my classmates, but if I played too hard, I would get sick. In addition to my health

by Alex Federline Washington, D.C. During my junior year of college, severe anxiety about my future took over my well-being. When I began taking anti-anxiety medication, my best friend introduced me to Nichiren Buddhism. Although I was interested, I didn’t believe that chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo would solve this problem. My grades slipped from A’s to C’s

How a shift in my heart and prayer led to the transformation of my home, district and community. by Kris MascarenasMILLIKEN, COLO. Eight years ago, my life was stuck in the world of anger, which put tremendous strain on my family. My temper got so bad that the police were called to the house once.

How I transformed a childhood trauma into my mission to create a better world. by Ellie AustinSANTA ROSA, CALIF When I was 12, a boy at school asked me to go out with him. I said no, figuring that was the end of it. Unfortunately, he couldn’t take the rejection and began harassing me. This

With appreciation and a fighting spirit comes deep transformation. by Nick Kano ATLANTA In Spring 2014, I was 21 years old and arrested for selling drugs. Due to my intense financial struggles, dealing drugs, I thought, was the only way to make money. Fortunately the charges were dropped, but my challenges continued. One by one,

by Masayo Mukumoto GARDENA, CALIF. I learned the spirit of financial offerings from my mother. When she joined the Soka Gakkai in Japan in 1962, my family’s business had gone bankrupt, and we had many financial problems. I was 19, and the only one working. I couldn’t afford lunch, so I would tell my co-workers

Jaffar Amir Wilkerson, Atlanta Living Buddhism: Amir, thank you for sharing your story with us. Can you tell us about your upbringing? Jaffar Amir Wilkerson: Thank you! I’m honored to share my experience with you. When I was younger, my mother had many struggles in her marriage, raising nine children and keeping us financially stable.

How I transformed my illness by dedicating my life to kosen-rufu. by Jennifer Ohrstrom Minneapolis When I was young, I read SGI President Ikeda’s guidance to youth to actively seek out hardships and become individuals of outstanding character. My life was privileged, with everything I wanted within reach. But inspired by the SGI members who

How my prayer to advance kosen-rufu “set the universe in motion” for my victory. by Moonjung Cho NORFOLK, VA. In fall 2016, when I first heard the announcement about the 50,000 Lions of Justice Festival,my husband, Ram, and I determined to go all out to support the youth of Virginia South Region, while achieving our

How dedicating my life to kosen-rufu, based on appreciation, saved my life.

Deepti Kedare Jain Emeryville, California Living Buddhism: Thank you, Deepti, for sharing your experience with us. How did you encounter Nichiren Buddhism? Deepti Kedare Jain: I moved to Southern California from India in 2008 to pursue a master’s degree in occupational therapy. Living apart from my family in a new country proved to be difficult.

How I created a new beginning for my life based on the practice of theoneness of mentor and disciple. by Mark McOmber Salt Lake City In 1996, SGI President Ikeda came to Denver. I had the fortune of supporting his security movement and, later, attending the general meeting as a participant. At the conclusion of

by Melissa Miles Newark, N.J. Before practicing Buddhism, I blamed my parents for everything that was wrong with my life. I was angry because they had not provided me with the type of life that many of my friends enjoyed as a result of their parents’ wealth. I was resigned to what I thought was

by Yoshiko Ford Mobile, ALA. When I was 2, my mother was left to raise five children on her own after my parents divorced. Amid her struggles to provide for us, her doctor said she only had a few years to live, due to complications with severe high blood pressure. But with the promise of