My God Lawyer Joycelyn Foo on Chanting, Nichiren Buddhism, and Building a Peaceful World | S2E9

Joycelyn Foo, a Buddhist from Wellington, talks to Chris Nichol about her faith and her work for a more peaceful world.

Attempting to achieve peace on a global level is something most of us leave in the hands of politicians. But for Joycelyn Foo, lawyer and member of lay Buddhist organisation, Soka Gakkai International, the journey towards world peace starts with the individual. Says Joycelyn: “By changing ourselves we can change society…the solutions to societies problems lie in the hearts of people.”

This week on ‘My God’ Joycelyn talks to presenter Chris Nichol about becoming a member of Soka Gakkai International, an organisation that draws on the teachings of Nichiren Buddhism. It provides guidance on what we can do at both an individual and a societal level to achieve peace. In an interview that sheds light on a form of Buddhism not so widely understood in New Zealand, Joycelyn discusses key tenets of her chosen Buddhist path and the practice of chanting that is central to Nichiren Buddhism.

Joycelyn grew up in Malaysia. Her father followed Confucian teachings while her mother began following Nichiren Buddhism when Joycelyn was six. Joycelyn says that as a child she did not believe in anything spiritual, “My belief was that if I worked hard I could achieve anything I wanted to achieve.” However she says in her late teens she “hit a wall” when she says she realised she could work as hard as she liked but some things lay beyond her reach.

As a girl Joycelyn had long held a dream of studying overseas, however as she was coming to the end of high school this dream looked likely to be derailed. It was a blow to Joycelyn and she began chanting as a way to help her through a tough time. While she says the practice of chanting is not about beseeching a ‘god’ for help, it opens the individual up to possibilities, it enables one to “remove the negative functions of our minds and reveals our innate Buddhahood.”

Against the odds Joycelyn was offered a place to study law in New Zealand and has gone on to forge a successful career, first in the commercial and corporate sector, and more recently in as legal counsel with Hutt City Council.

Joycelyn is actively involved in the New Zealand Soka Gakkai community which organised an exhibition dedicated to creating a culture of peace. She discusses with Chris how her involvement with Soka Gakkai International allows her to put her beliefs into practice on a daily basis.

#MyGodSeries #JoycelynFoo #NichirenBuddhism #SokaGakkai #WorldPeace #InterfaithDialogue #BuddhismInNZ #ChantForPeace #FaithInAction #InnerTransformation #InterfaithUnity #GlobalHarmony #BuddhismAndLaw #CreatingPeace #PersonalGrowth #InterfaithConnections #WellingtonNZ #SpiritualJourney #MāoriAndBuddhistConnections #FaithAndSociety #HeartOfPeace #SGINZ #ChrisNichol #CulturalDiversity #NZBuddhism #HarmonyThroughFaith #interfaith #interfaithstories
https://www.facebook.com/nzpacificscreen
facebook My God TV
www.pacificscreen.com

Видео My God Lawyer Joycelyn Foo on Chanting, Nichiren Buddhism, and Building a Peaceful World | S2E9 канала Pacific Screen