From SGIUSA, I'm Cassidy Bradford, and this is Budability.

The weekly series where I talk with Buddhists from all walks of life

about the power we each have to change our lives and the world around us.

This week, we asked you what is most important for you to live a healthy life? Your responses covered mental and physical health.

Some of you said connection with other people and feeling a sense of purpose.

Lots of you said self-love and compassion.

We heard a lot about physical activity,

whether that means hitting the gym or taking a walk in nature.

Many of you care about the food you eat and getting enough sleep.

When I read these responses, I found myself thinking about developing healthy habits for myself.

It's always been tough for me to maintain a routine to take care of my mental and physical health.

When I get overwhelmed by all the research I'm reading about how to live a healthy life and not really knowing where to start,

I remind myself that I can first just chant NAM Hōding-Ga-kio. Why? Well, we might know the research on the best

foods to eat, ways to exercise, or mindfulness practices to support our health. But the problem for many

of us might be figuring out how to start and then how to continue on that path.

Buddhism teaches us that it ultimately comes down to our inner life.

Buddhist philosopher De Saku Akata says, our health, courage, wisdom, joy, desire to improve,

self-discipline, and so on, could all be said to depend on

our life force. Chanting Namyo Hōding-Ge-Kyo enables us to bring forth limitless life force.

Those who base themselves on chanting Namyo Hōdenge-Kyo are therefore never deadlocked.

The important thing is to continue chanting

every day no matter what happens. Namyo hodengkeo is the fundamental power of the universe.

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