Buddhability For Anyone Who’s Ever Been Counted Out
Apr 3, 2026
Samirah Gnangbe, a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering from Côte d'Ivoire and SGI Nichiren Buddhist practitioner. She recounts surviving civil war and how chanting supported her through danger. She describes language and cultural hurdles after moving to the U.S. and the path from burnout to a mission: visible scholarship, sustainability research in plastic recycling, and inspiring underrepresented students.
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Chanting During Civil War Kept Her Family Safe
- Samirah was 11 during a civil war in Côte d'Ivoire and her family chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo nonstop for protection.
- Rebels attempted to enter their yard; after chanting they left and Samirah credits the practice with activating protective functions.
Environment Mirrors Inner Minds
- Samirah links societal violence to impure minds, citing Nichiren: a land reflects the purity of its people's minds.
- She interprets civil war as arising from biases in individuals that manifest collectively as conflict.
Refuse Comparison and Double Down On Learning
- Do not compare yourself to others; be true to who you are and continue learning with all your might.
- Samirah used Daisaku Ikeda's passage as a daily guide while being the only Buddhist student and aiming to excel academically.
