How to turn your circumstances into your purpose

How to turn your circumstances into your purpose

Author: SGI-USA April 9, 2021 Duration: 47:30

Today’s episode is about a key Buddhist concept, which teaches that where you are right now is exactly the place you need to be to fulfill your purpose, as long as you're willing to dig deep into your heart and let the courage out.

We speak with Dori Colly, a young mother in North Carolina. On the surface, hers is a story about the challenges she went through to buy a house. But what's most incredible about her experience practicing Buddhism is how she courageously opened her heart, despite many traumatic experiences, to put down roots in a community that she never wanted to stay in the first place, because of how volatile and unsafe it felt. 

Today, many of her family members live on the same block and are working together to transform the community in which they live.


CHEAT SHEET

0:19 Introduction to today’s topic
2:16 Dori’s story
5:53 What made her decide to start practicing Buddhism consistently 
7:40 Her journey to buy a house
14:13 How winning in the morning became the key to transforming her disbelief 
16:50 What chanting can do
18:42 How she’s been able to support a child with autism
24:49 How chanting helped her transform family discord
26:46 How chanting helped her transform how she felt towards the world
30:58 How she reunited with her dad and moved him in next door
32:46 What her dream became after purchasing the house
40:16 The role that having supportive friends has played
40:41 Advice for anyone who feels beat down by their environment right now
42:55 The moment Dori’s heart shifted from not wanting to stay in North Carolina to taking full responsibility for her community


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
Conviction vs. Control: How to become an unshakable leader [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:01
Today we are talking about what it takes to become unshakable. Our guest is Brittany Jones, who recently became the youngest elementary school principal in the country's second largest school district. She shares her jou…
Buddhism is a team sport [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:38
Today we’re about talking about how to find your path forward during a period of uncertainty. We’re joined by Shota Okajima, of New Jersey, who shares how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped him overcome tremendous anxie…
Finding my own path in relationships [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:54
Today we’re talking about identity and relationships. Briana Boche, of Seattle, shares her story of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and how she developed confidence in the practice of human revolution, that is, the process…
How I stopped letting my environment control me [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:53
Today we’re talking about the impact our environment has on us. In Buddhism, a crucial concept called “the oneness of life and environment” teaches that our environment is simply a reflection of our own life. Because the…
Finding the courage to change my life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:38
Today we’re speaking with Asia Harvey-Wright, who goes by Harvey, about their first steps practicing Buddhism after encountering the practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in 2020, during one of the darkest periods of…
Finding my purpose as a journalist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:24
Today we’re talking with journalist Melissa Hirsch about how her Buddhist practice helped her navigate her career journey. This episode is especially relevant for anyone who may have a dream they are pursuing but is find…
Buddhism and the startup journey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:08
Today we’re talking about the startup journey, though this episode is filled with lessons for anyone starting anything, be it a company, a project or just a fresh path in life. Creating something new, especially together…
How a young female pilot found the courage to fly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
Moving on after experiencing loss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:47
Today we’re talking how to move on after experiencing loss. Our guest is Hannah Jones, of Ohio, who shares how she encountered SGI Nichiren Buddhism while in high school, and how it helped her navigate the loss of her be…
How to let your walls down and show up as your true self [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:16
Today we’re talking about what it takes to tear down your walls if you have trouble showing up as your authentic self. Jermira Trapp, of Chicago, shares how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo has enabled her to transform painf…