Uplifting Black Nichiren Buddhist Voices

Limited Series: New episodes released each Tuesday from September to November 2025

Manifesting Buddhahood in This Lifetime with Dr. Kamilah Majied

Buddha-nature refers to the innate potential for every living being to attain enlightenment, and one of the most compelling aspects of Nichiren Buddhism is the teaching that this is already present in every being. The realization of this inherent truth is called “Buddhahood.” In this episode, Rima Vesely-Flad speaks with Dr. Kamilah Majied about using hardship as fuel for reaching the state of mind called Buddhahood.

Dr. Kamilah Majied is a longtime member of the Soka Gakkai International lineage, a mental health therapist, researcher, professor of social work, and a consultant for contemplative justice and sustainability. She is the author of Joyfully Just: Black Wisdom and Buddhist Insights for Liberated Living.

Tina Turner’s Nichiren Buddhist Practice with Dr. Ralph Craig

The distinctive teachings of Nichiren Buddhism are deeply compelling for Black practitioners throughout the United States. To start this exploration of the significance of this practice for Black Americans, Rima Vesely-Flad speaks with Dr. Ralph Craig about the famous Black Buddhist singer Tina Turner, and her relationship to Nichiren practices such as chanting the Lotus Sutra.

Dr. Ralph Craig is the author of Dancing In My Dreams: A Spiritual Biography of Tina Turner. He is an interdisciplinary scholar of religion, whose research focuses on South Asian Buddhism and American Buddhism.

Introduction

Buddhist teachings have always been adapted to the environments in which they’re transmitted. This is true of Buddhism as it is embraced by Black people in the United States, as Black Buddhists bring distinctive interpretations of the dharma to our communities. One of the Buddhist lineages that has garnered exceptional attention is a Japanese based lineage, Nichiren. The chanting practices of Nichiren Buddhists interviewed in these episodes carry Black practitioners  forward. In their own words, these practitioners tell us what freedom means to them. 

Supported by the Crossroads Project funded by the Henry J. Luce Foundation, as well as the Frederick Lenz Foundation and the Fetzer Institute. Produced by Sandra Hannebohm, founder of Twice as Good Media.