Listen "Everything you need to know about chanting"
Episode Synopsis
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 pretty serious challenges. Now, over 10 years later, he’s an amazing high school math teacher in Arizona and also really active in the local Buddhist community there.If you’re new, we recommend listening to this episode all the way through, but if you just want to skip around for answers to your questions, see the cheat sheet below for timestamps.Cheat Sheet0:16 On how to join the February Buddhability Journey2:41 The basics of chanting Nam-myoho-renge kyo: how, when, for how long4:24 Should I be thinking about something while chanting?7:15 Is chanting the same as meditation?9:01 How does chanting make you feel? What changes will I see?11:36 How chanting impacted Ryan’s day-to-day life as a teacher14:54 Why chant in the first place?17:22 What is Buddhability? What are we trying to tap into by chanting?20:33 How is SGI Nichiren Buddhism different from other forms of Buddhism?25:50 What’s the point of having a Buddhist community?30:39 How does my daily practice connect to changing the world?30:04 What if I chant and don’t feel or see any changes?16:20 Tips for those trying chanting for the first time
More episodes of the podcast Buddhability
Feeling Joy Regardless of My Circumstances
16/01/2026
Why Some Relationships Feel Hard and What Actually Helps: Advice From Mental Health Experts
05/12/2025
From Starving Artists to Fulfilled Creators: How a Sculptor and an Animator Use Buddhism to Succeed
31/10/2025
Building My Buddhist Muscle Memory
24/10/2025
Who Am I After My Loved One Dies?
17/10/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.