Welcome back to bootability.

We're on a two-month break from new interviews, but excited to continue our special Q&A mini-series with you in the meantime.

Each week, we're answering one question that a listener asks about any aspect of Buddhist practice or how to apply Buddhism to daily life.

I'm your host, Ji-jali.

Here's today's question.

Can I be angry when I chant? It's actually a combination of a few questions we

received from you. One person asked, some days I feel powerful and determined, some days I feel

sad and cry, but lately I've been furious and angry. Is it okay to be furious and angry in front of my goonson? And another added,

is there a way I can use my anger for good? So let's talk about anger and chanting. First, let's address

the chanting part. While it's great to set clear goals to focus your practice of chanting

Namyo Hōrengekio, in reality, when we chant, all kinds of thoughts pop into our minds,

and this is completely normal. Contrary to popular belief, you're not expected to clear your mind

when you're chanting. Actually, allowing your thoughts to naturally come up can also signal what's in your heart,

and sometimes that includes processing our emotions, which we can be totally open about.

First and foremost, it's important to be yourself when chanting and be as honest as possible. The transformation happens through the

process of chanting. Buddhist philosopher Daisakou Ikeda explains, when we turn our problems into prayers,

their significance changes. By turning them into prayers filled with determination and conviction,

we can expand our state of life.

Prayers in Buddhism can be viewed as a pledge to take action based on activating our own bootability, that is, our own courage, wisdom, and compassion.

Ikeda offers these examples of how that can be done. If we've done something we

regret, he writes, we can chant with a determination never to repeat the same mistake, making our

prayer the first step toward a new and better future. When we face a decisive challenge, we can

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