By broadening her capacity to care for others, Victoria Smith has overcome the crippling effects of depression and expanded her life beyond her expectations.

“The life of a human being is fleeting,” writes Nichiren, “The exhaled breath never waits for the inhaled one. Even dew before the wind is hardly a sufficient metaphor.” Although we are inclined to ignore the fact, sooner or later each of us must confront the inevitable reality of death.