How a young female pilot found the courage to fly

How a young female pilot found the courage to fly

Author: SGI-USA March 16, 2022 Duration: 44:59

Today we’re talking about how to persevere on a career path when the odds are stacked against you. Mardi Tan, of Long Beach, California, shares her incredible journey to pursue a career in aviation, an industry in which less than 5% of pilots are women. Her Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped her navigate being a woman, being out, and overcoming every obstacle that came her way in order to open a path for other female pilots.


CHEAT SHEET


0:47 How Mardi starting practicing Buddhism

6:45 Discovering her dream to become a pilot

14:25 How chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped her navigate fear

18:26 What it took for her to bring her authentic self to a male-dominated industry

21:22 How she dealt with discrimination

28:04 The Buddhist concept that helped her persevere

30:44 The ups and downs that almost made her give up

38:17 How lifting up others helped her keep going

40:19 Her vision for the future of aviation

41:46 Advice for anyone struggling to pursue their dream


References:

  • Discussions on Youth, p. 105

It’s easy to lose sight of our own strength when life gets complicated, but what if that inherent clarity and capability never actually left? Buddhability explores that very idea through the lived experiences of everyday people. Host Cassidy Bradford guides genuine conversations with a community of practicing Buddhists from SGI-USA, who share how they navigate real-world challenges. You’ll hear personal stories that touch on everything from mental resilience and physical well-being to navigating career shifts and personal relationships. This isn’t about abstract theory; it’s a practical look at applying Buddhist principles to uncover a more confident and compassionate way of living. Each episode of the podcast feels like a thoughtful dialogue, focusing on how to reconnect with that inner resourcefulness-your Buddhability-amidst the stress and clutter of modern life. The discussions are grounded in the belief that enlightenment isn’t a distant goal, but a potential we can all access right now to improve our own lives and positively impact the world around us. Tune in for honest reflections and discover how this perspective can transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 244

Buddhability
Podcast Episodes
Finding happiness while living with chronic illness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:59
On this episode, we discuss living with chronic health challenges, be it physical or mental health. Jenny Ohrstrom, who has been seeking treatment for Lyme disease for nearly 8 years, shares her story of learning how to…
Being new parents (in a pandemic) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:07
Today we are talking about being new parents, which is a topic that's been requested by many listeners. Savini and Piper, college sweethearts from India who moved to New York City in their 20’s, share the story of having…
Buddhist Friends for Life (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:30
We are back with part 2 of last week’s episode, which is all about the Buddhist community. In the SGI we meet in local neighborhood groups (these days over Zoom) to figure out how to apply Buddhism to our daily lives, to…
Buddhist Friends for Life (Part 1) #struggleictory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:42
We have a two-part episode for you today, all about the Buddhist community. In the SGI we meet in local neighborhood groups (these days over zoom) to figure out how to apply Buddhism to our daily lives, together. After a…
How’s chanting going? (Journey Check-in) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:20
This week, we wanted to check in with everyone who is currently doing the 28 Day Buddhability Journey. (Remember, it’s not too late to jump in. Even a week of chanting can feel amazing!)Tell us how it’s going! If you’ve…
Six Questions About Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:07
Today we’re answering listener questions about love and relationships. We called up 3 people from our Buddhist community who have been chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for a while now—Abby from Oakland, Rah'mad from Washingt…
Everything you need to know about chanting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:45
Today we are covering some of the basics of Buddhism for anyone who might be new to chanting or simply wants a refresher. We speak with Ryan Hayashi, who starting chanting in high school, when he was going through some p…
My First Days Chanting, A Buddhability Journey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:15
We are excited to announce something special today—the 28 Day Buddhability Journey—which we’re kicking off on February 1. It’s a monthlong challenge to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo every day for however long you'd like, and…
When you feel like you don’t belong anywhere [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:36
Feeling like you fit in is hard, especially when you have many different identities. If you’ve ever felt like you put on a different mask every place you go, this episode is for you. We speak with Falcon Sang, a young ar…
What Buddhism and Design Have in Common [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:18
In our first conversation of 2021, we speak with designer and architect James Ludwig, VP of Global Design and Product Engineering for Steelcase Inc., the world’s leading designer of office furniture. He’s also been pract…