CategoryProfiles

by Manav Mehta27 years oldChicago I grew up praying to external deities to solve my problems. I often begged for my wishes to be realized instead of taking action myself. When things didn’t happen in my favor, I’d call myself unlucky and blame others for my unhappiness. My girlfriend, on the other hand, was hopeful and

by Lylette Primell RussellGrenada District Unit Women’s LeaderNonpareil, Grenada I run a 13-acre farm on the island of Grenada, making organic cocoa together with my husband, Kim. Living in the Caribbean, we are used to natural disasters, so when we heard about COVID-19, we started preparing right away. We had to practice self-sufficiency to ensure the future of

by Tajai Turner30 years oldMilwaukee When I became a licensed funeral director and CEO of a funeral home, I began longing for a strong spiritual foundation suited to my new lifestyle. Last year in June, I found the SGI online and attended an introductory meeting in Milwaukee. I was attracted to the modern-day application of the

by Megan Veirun27 years oldPearl River, N.Y. When I went away to college, my anxiety started to peak. Recognizing that mental health was a stigmatized area, I was drawn to study it. I’m now a registered nurse proudly working with the psychiatric population, while teaching an undergrad nursing course. I just celebrated my one-year anniversary as an

This Is a Teachable Moment by NaKia MorganFresh Meadows District Young Women’s LeaderHospital Care InvestigatorNew York As a hospital care investigator, I ensure that each person who comes to our hospital can be admitted without hindrances due to insurance or payment issues. The hospital climate, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, is mixed. Some days people operate

by Koji Cassetta27 years oldDetroit When I first picked up the bass at 14, I knew I wanted to play music for life. But I struggled with self-confidence as I pursued my dream to go to a top music program. I went to community college for four years and barely got through an algebra course that

Our efforts to awaken one youth after another have not been deterred by the coronavirus pandemic. Under the banner “One Youth. Infinite Hope. More Than Ever!” SGI-USA members are focused on enabling 6,000 young people to begin chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo right now in these uncertain times to collectively elevate the life state of humanity. Unlocking the

by Jasmine Pogue33 years old Baton Rouge, LA. I was 15 when my mom died from cancer. I tried to understand and reconcile what had happened. Around that time, a friend told me that by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, I could reconnect with my mom’s life. I wasn’t seeking spirituality, but a few years later, I accepted her invitation

by Vernard Sharif FennellNew Orleans “As long as we look at our situation with only ordinary reason, there won’t be the slightest chance for us to win. But [Nichiren] Daishonin tells us plainly that the Gohonzon has infinite power. The only question is whether or not we believe him. If we think that we are really

by Larry SingerHudson Heights District Men’s Leader New York When I was a youth, I heard so much encouragement from SGI President Ikeda about Nichiren Daishonin’s treatise “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land”—a key point being that it’s not the land that is impure but rather the hearts and minds of the

by Joey ToroTreasured Islands Region Men’s Leader Maui, Hawaii About a month ago, we suspended operations at our family reupholstery business in Maui, Hawaii, due to the spread of COVID-19. In light of the situation, my mom, sisters and co-workers decided to use our equipment to make face masks for our family and neighbors. My

by Niel Chuang 34 years oldFullerton, Calif. The year I moved from Taiwan to the U.S. for school was the darkest of my life. It was 2006 and, for the first time, I faced so much uncertainty and self-doubt. I began missing school assignments and failing courses. Quarter after quarter, things piled up until my

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

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 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.

by Lauren Patterson22 years oldTorrance, Calif. I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder when I was 9, which left me feeling so small and miserable. It got to the point where I didn’t want to leave my house, because I felt that people saw me as a joke, just a waste of skin. In high

by Bethany Davis32 years oldCave Springs, Ark. One day in 2013, my brother was found unresponsive after overdosing. My dad and I chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for him, as if our own lives depended on it. No one thought he was going to make it, so we were amazed when he woke up to the call of

by Bryant Ríos-Niño23 years oldStamford, Conn. I fell in love with skateboarding, yet used it only to escape life during my lowest point at age 17. I was struggling in school and was surrounded by bad influences. I got into smoking and started rebelling against my parents. I had grown up in a family that practices

Despite challenges of weather and distance, the members of Great Lakes Chapter of Michigan learned to win based on prayer, unity and the oneness of mentor and disciple.

The following are profiles of youth who joined the SGI-USA during the 2013 campaign to introduce 3,000 young people to Nichiren Buddhism. This year, as we advance toward our united goal of welcoming 6,000 youth in America, let’s remind ourselves of the powerful impact that we can make on society by introducing even one youth