David Degner

Portrait of Philippe Crettien at the school where he teaches, photographed for Living Buddhism.
After years of isolation while caring for his wife, Rose, Philippe Crettien reached out to the SGI community he had left 30 years prior. The response was immediate and profound: “Come in,” said an old friend, “I’ve been chanting for you for 30 years.” This story is a testament to the enduring power of friendship and a faith community that never gives up on its members.

Portrait of Philippe Crettien for Living Buddhism

published in World Tribune

Why making this portrait with Philippe Crettien it was amazing how open he has been to the world and obvious how he is still has a fire of curiosity. But this was for a story with darkness and light. It’s behind a paywall on World Tribune, but here’s a summary.

Philippe Crettien’s recent, unprecedented two-week music tour to Cuba with his students was born from a decade of profound personal struggle. His journey began not with a travel plan, but with an inner voyage sparked by the Alzheimer’s diagnosis of Rose, his wife of 40 years. As he became her full-time caretaker, their world shrank, leading to total isolation. This painful chapter culminated in the heartbreaking decision to move Rose into full-time care in 2019, a moment that pushed Philippe to his breaking point and, simultaneously, back to his deepest roots: his Buddhist practice.

Portrait of Philippe Crettien at the school where he teaches, photographed for Living Buddhism.
On a historic trip to Cuba, Philippe Crettien’s students faced illness, fatigue, and cultural divides. But fueled by his vow to create friendship, they united with Cuban youth through the common language of music. Their triumphant joint recording session demonstrated a powerful truth from Nichiren Buddhism: when we change our fundamental mindset, we can change our world.

Having drifted from the SGI community for 30 years, Philippe, in a moment of frantic despair, unearthed the Gohonzon he had stored away and began chanting. This single act of faith reopened a door to a life he had left behind. He reconnected with old friends in faith who welcomed him with open arms, reminding him he was never truly alone. Embracing his practice with a renewed sense of mission, Philippe committed to his “human revolution,” taking on leadership and striving to connect with his mentor, Ikeda Sensei, as a disciple. This inner transformation unleashed a new wave of creativity, inspiring him to compose an orchestral piece dedicated to Rose and his own childhood in North Africa.

This musical tribute became a bridge to the world. Through the French embassy, his composition reached celebrated Cuban jazz pianist Roberto Fonseca, leading to an invitation to perform in Cuba. Seizing the opportunity to create value, Philippe proposed bringing his students for a cultural exchange—a first for his school. Despite logistical hurdles and parental concerns, he persevered, determined to provide his students with a humbling, priceless experience of connecting with Cuban youth who live with far fewer material resources under the U.s. embargo. The goal was to build friendship through the universal language of music.

Portrait of Philippe Crettien at the school where he teaches, photographed for Living Buddhism.
A journey to his deepest roots, sparked by his wife’s battle with Alzheimer’s, led Philippe Crettien back to his Buddhist practice. This inner transformation fueled an outer one: an unprecedented musical exchange trip to Cuba, proving that the deepest personal struggles can blossom into powerful movements for peace and friendship.

The trip to Cuba was fraught with obstacles. A virus swept through nearly a quarter of the students, communication was limited, and the pressure was immense. Grounded by his daily chanting and study of Buddhist principles, Philippe navigated each crisis with a steady hand, inspiring his team and students. He arranged for gifts of musical supplies for their Cuban counterparts, dissolving any potential for resentment and fostering an atmosphere of pure joy and appreciation. The students from both countries learned from each other, taught each other, and forged powerful bonds through their shared passion.

The tour culminated in a challenging but triumphant recording session of an original piece, “Mariella’s Dream,” at Havana’s iconic Abdala studio. When the exhausted students faltered, Philippe drew on his deep-seated vow as a Bodhisattva of the Earth, located the source of the musical difficulty, and guided the 47-member ensemble to a spectacular performance. Back home, this victory was mirrored in his family life, as he reconnected with his children. When Rose passed peacefully soon after, she did so with a smile, a sign Philippe interpreted as her joy in seeing his transformation. Her illness, a source of immense suffering, had ultimately prompted him to reawaken his mission, unite his family, and prove the limitless power of turning poison into medicine.