Revolution Within: Finding Strength through Buddhism

On a humid Friday morning at Hamilton Library, Oct. 3, 2025 a small circle of chairs filled slowly as members of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) community gathered to talk about one idea: Human Revolution. The phrase, central to Nichiren Buddhism, describes the quiet act of transforming one’s life from within, a revolution that starts not in politics or power, but in the heart.

SGI is a global Buddhist network rooted in the teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, a 13th-century Japanese monk who taught that enlightenment is accessible to all people through faith, study, and daily practice. The concept of Human Revolution refers to a personal transformation that begins within the individual and extends outward to positively influence families, communities, and society as a whole.

Among the attendees sat Danny Nagashima, an older man with kind eyes and a calm presence. When it was his turn to speak, the room fell silent. What followed was not doctrine or debate but testimony, the kind that makes people lean in and truly listen.

Nagashima recalled how, years earlier, his friends noticed something was wrong. “They told me, ‘You have to go to [the] doctor. Your breathing is strange.’ I didn’t want to listen,” Nagashima said. When he finally did, the doctor discovered five arteries blocked around his heart. “He said, ‘I can’t believe you’re sitting in front of me.’”

Referred to UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Medical Center, he was told the surgery would take nine hours. That night, fear gave him nightmares. “In our practice, we say we should be a lion,” Nagashima said. “When we chant, we get courage, wisdom, and compassion. So I decided I will live another 30 years. I will live until 2050.”

Nagashima explained this vow was not just to live longer, but to live with a purpose. His chants and promises to himself become a form of prayer. He chanted for hours before the operation. The surgery, after many tedious hours on the table, was a success. Five days later, he walked out smiling, unable to hold his granddaughter but standing happily beside her feeling triumphant with a new found passion and drive for life.

Amongst his promises, one nestled in his core was to share his passion for life and Buddhism with as many people as he could. More specifically to 1,000 groups of people over the next 30 years – a goal that he had already put considerable leg work into, stating, “This is my 393rd time sharing this story.”

The discussion that morning had started as an academic look at Human Revolution. But through his story, the idea became tangible. Human Revolution, members explained, means facing adversity with courage and compassion, believing that even the darkest moments hold the seeds of growth. “Through faith and practice,” the reading went, “we can reveal Buddhahood right now, just as we are.”

For many in the room, this message felt especially urgent in an age of instability and ego. “Society tends to follow greed, anger, and foolishness,” Nagashima said. “But Buddhism reminds us that everything is interconnected. We cannot be happy unless we live in harmony with others.”

As the meeting closed, his words lingered. It was not about survival, but renewal. “I believe Hawai‘i can become an example for the world,” Nagashima said. “Different cultures, different beliefs, all learning to live together. That is Human Revolution.”