Urban youths seek inner peace through Buddhist philosophy

PUNE: The eighth-floor apartment in the upscale Clover Village in Salunke Vihar is a hub of serene activity.
A group of 20 lounge around, looking out of a picture window that gives a bird’s-eye view of the city and a glimpse at the distant hills. The spartan living room had but one adornment, a painting of Buddha sitting on a lotus that was lit by the golden light of dusk.
Meet Bharat Soka Gakai, a group that believes in the philosophy propagated by the Japanese Buddhist sage, Nichiren Daishonin.Central to this philosophy is a belief that fundamental change in an individual can bring about a great transformation in the society.
At its core is a simple chant, ‘Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō’. How often and for how long depends on an individual. The chant, introduced to Pune more than three decades ago, has gone from a source of spirituality to a means to de-stressing. That this is not a ritualistic chant only makes young professionals more welcoming.
“Here, you can chant anytime and anywhere; there are no restrictions to food or lifestyle and it doesn’t require you to believe in a God. My life had gone haywire when I started chanting, and it anchored me. I came to the realization that I need to change, rather than hoping for change to happen,” said Namrata, an IT professional.
For Shraddha Wadhwani, a senior HR manager, the chant is about being the best version of herself. No matter what role you play, it asks you to become the best ‘you’. It asks you to show compassion and chant for even those who are bad to you,” she said.
Kanika Mall was among the first Puneites to embrace this philosophy. “I moved to Pune (from Delhi) in 1995. Back then, it was a small group of friends. Over the years, this group has grown through word of mouth and personal interactions. We sometimes meet together, and sometimes as different groups — kids, students, youths, etc,” Mall said.