Sally Marks is the Interfaith representative for Soka Gakkai International (SGI) Buddhism in Arizona. Members of this sect of Buddhism chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo to activate their Buddha nature. By chanting this mantra, individuals undergo an inner transformation that leads to inner peace and helps the individual create a more harmonious environment. SGI-USA is part of a global community-based network of more than 11 million people in 192 countries and territories that practice the humanistic philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism centered on respect for the dignity of life. Members of the SGI are committed to dialogue and nonviolence based on the conviction that individual happiness and the realization of peace are inextricably linked.

The SGI bases its practice on the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Buddhism, which teaches that each person has the courage, wisdom and compassion to face and surmount any of life’s challenges. Based on core Buddhist principles such as respecting the dignity of human life and the interconnectedness of self and the environment, SGI engages in various activities for peace, culture and education.