“Hey, Have You Heard of Buddhism?”

(Photo above by Haley Black / Pexels)

Stormi Grundon of Vincennes, Indiana, learns about chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo from a musician at her local café.

I was waitressing at a small café in Vincennes, Indiana, when one of the jazz musicians who regularly performed there asked me quite plainly, “Hey, have you heard of Buddhism?” I was intrigued for sure. Whenever he walked into the café with his wife they seemed to radiate happiness. And when someone asks you, “Hey are you interested” with such a positive tone of voice my immediate reaction was “Yes, I am interested.”

I remember sitting outside with them in the Spring of 2020. It was still cold out but with the sun coming down I listened to them share about how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo could address many of the challenges I was facing at that time. They taught me how to pronounce the words and, from then on, I just started chanting wherever I went. I was hooked.

Every time I would chant, there was a difference in how I experienced each day. I felt more open and ready to grow.  Soon I felt the need to chant about my upcoming surgery. I have a strong fear of pain. Having to go through a medical procedure filled me with fear and anxiety. I went through with the surgery. Afterward I remember thinking, “Wow, chanting works.” Because instead of feeling groggy and sore, I actually didn’t feel any pain at all.

I realized that before the surgery I had been living with pain for so long and, now that I addressed it, I was pain-free.

This gave me the confidence to chant for other things: a harmonious family, for my husband to succeed at his work, having happy children and more.

With my new Buddhist practice, I’m getting to learn about myself in a new way and reaffirm the things I care about in the world. With chanting, I get to grow every day.