From SGI USA, 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 this.

Through these many dialogues, I've come to realize that there's kind of a lot that I take for granted as just the way I view life.

Growing up with a Buddhist mom, I was taught from childhood that all people possess the potential for buddhahood. Of course, in more simple terms when I was younger, but I learned that all life

is precious. We have to respect the dignity of life in all its forms. So no matter what my neighbor

looks like or who they love, their life is

valuable. I'm sure that many folks grow up around that general viewpoint, but I imagine that there

are fewer who are exposed to it as a religious or spiritual practice. Speaking with today's guest,

Joseph Aguilar of Kansas, I was reminded how revolutionary

Buddhism really is. Joseph, who grew up in a Christian household, left the church

when he went to college and embarked on a bit of a personal mission, one to find a philosophy

or practice that answered some deep personal questions he had.

Along the way, they began to uncover and embrace their true self. This led to an evolution

in their career path and just the way that they live their life. Today's episode is all about

embracing our truest self and helping others do the same.

Welcome to bootability, Joseph. Thank you for joining me this weekend. So I'm really looking forward to having this conversation.

And I think your story is really interesting and unique.

So I'm really excited to, you know, get the opportunity to share it with everyone.

So to open things up, if you can just introduce yourself, a little bit of context about who you are. So

take it away whenever you're ready. Thank you, Cassidy. You're having me on here. My name is

Joseph Aguilar. I grew up in a military family, very military. Both of my parents were in it.

All my uncles were in it.

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