Becoming A Pillar Of Strength Through Faith

I began practicing Nichiren Buddhism in 1996.

At that time, I was working as a school teacher and going through one of the darkest periods of my life.

I was struggling simultaneously with:

Financial burdens

Relationship conflicts

Emotional despair

The situation had become so overwhelming that sometimes I genuinely felt I would not survive it.

Then I encountered Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism.

One Gosho passage immediately became my lifeline:

“Muster your faith, and pray to this Gohonzon. Then what is there that cannot be achieved?”

(‘Reply to Kyo’o’, WND-1, 412)

Those words awakened tremendous hope inside me.

I determined to fundamentally transform my karma through:

Strong faith

Abundant daimoku

Diligent practice

Consistent study

For the first time, I stopped viewing myself as helpless before circumstances.

Turning Challenges Into Value

Even as I approached the age of 60 — the official retirement age — I was still struggling to pay off loans.

Financially, the future looked uncertain.

But unexpectedly, I received a three-year extension in service.

To me, this felt like tremendous protection from the Gohonzon.

Not only that, I was also promoted as principal of a school that was then in complete disarray.

The institution was struggling badly.

Instead of feeling burdened, I determined to challenge the situation through faith.

Basing myself on daimoku and sincere efforts for kosen-rufu, I worked tirelessly to improve the school environment.

At the same time, I introduced:

Teachers

Family members

Friends

to the practice.

Gradually, remarkable changes unfolded.

During my tenure, the school transformed into one of the top three schools in Shimla.

I also received:

An appreciation award

The National Humanity Award

Most importantly, I became completely debt-free.

I realized that when we challenge our struggles with faith and action, even impossible situations begin changing steadily.

Facing One Trial After Another

But life continued testing me deeply.

On my final working day, my mother-in-law suffered a stroke.

My husband and I moved to our ancestral home in Chandigarh to care for her.

Instead of harmony, however, we encountered severe resentment from extended family members.

Soon, a major property dispute erupted.

At the same time, I also had to courageously oppose the mistreatment my mother-in-law was facing.

Then came another devastating blow.

In 2004, I lost four siblings in a tragic car accident.

They had been my greatest emotional support system.

The grief was indescribable.

Around the same period, my own health began deteriorating severely.

Within six years, I underwent:

Vascular surgery

Eye surgeries for suspected glaucoma

Breast cancer surgery

There were moments when the suffering felt endless.

But instead of collapsing emotionally, I deepened my daimoku further.

I challenged myself to chant:

Abundant daimoku daily

10 hours of daimoku twice every month

Even amidst my own battle with cancer, I introduced two fellow cancer patients to the practice.

Today, both are cancer-free and active in Gakkai.

By 2007, I had emerged victorious over my surgeries and illnesses.

Even doctors were astonished by the speed of my recovery.

Standing Up Again After Loss

In 2008, my mother-in-law passed away peacefully at the age of 95.

Then in April 2010, I lost my husband — my greatest companion and support.

The emotional pain was immense.

Yet, strangely, during those moments, I strongly felt my mentor’s encouragement inside my heart.

Instead of breaking down completely, courage began welling forth naturally.

At the age of 70, I stood up as the pillar of strength for my entire family.

That phase taught me a profound lesson:

Faith does not remove grief from life.

But it gives us the strength to continue advancing with dignity even amidst grief.

My Prime Point With My Mentor

In November 2010, I shared my experience at a BSG General Meeting.

Around that same period, I received a precious gift from Ikeda Sensei — a print of his calligraphy:

“Justice.”

That gift became my lifelong prime point with my mentor.

I renewed my determination to advance kosen-rufu with a strong stand-alone spirit.

Soon afterward, as deputy region chief, I was attached to a district where most members had become inactive.

Once again, I challenged myself through daimoku.

Every Saturday, I began chanting 10 hours continuously.

I used every spare moment to connect sincerely with district members — especially the youth.

I studied Sensei’s guidance daily with them.

Gradually, members started reporting victories.

Inactive members slowly returned.

New members also began emerging joyfully.

Within one year, meeting attendance increased eightfold.

Watching people regain hope through Buddhism became one of the greatest joys of my life.

Advancing Joyfully Even In My Eighties

In 2018, one of my cherished dreams was finally fulfilled:

I got the opportunity to visit Daiseido in Japan.

Ironically, just before the trip:

I suffered a shoulder fracture

I underwent knee replacement surgery

Still, I traveled to Japan with my arm in a cast.

Standing before the Gohonzon at Daiseido, I renewed my vow for worldwide kosen-rufu with my mentor in my heart.

After returning from Japan, I introduced eight members of my family — including four Future Division members — to the practice.

Till today, I have introduced 61 people to Nichiren Buddhism.

Financially too, tremendous transformation occurred.

My circumstances improved so much that I could contribute joyfully for kosen-rufu from my heart.

Since January 2023, I have been contributing 20 percent of my monthly pension toward BSG activities.

Then came another long-awaited victory.

On March 22, 2024, a 45-year-old property dispute finally concluded peacefully.

The property was sold and proceeds were divided equally among all family members.

After decades of conflict, resolution finally emerged.

I then moved from Shimla to Chandigarh — my new place of mission.

A Line That Stayed With Me

“Muster your faith, and pray to this Gohonzon. Then what is there that cannot be achieved?”

Reflection

Looking back over 28 years of practice, I realize that Buddhism did not merely solve isolated problems in my life.

It transformed my entire way of living.

Through faith, I transformed:

Financial karma

Health karma

Relationship karma

My own state of life

Most importantly, I learned that age does not determine youthfulness.

Youthfulness is the spirit to continue striving for others with hope and purpose.

Even today, I feel joyful, vibrant, and deeply motivated to encourage younger generations.

True happiness, I realized, comes not from comfort — but from continuing to contribute despite challenges.

Key Takeaways

Faith transforms suffering into strength and mission.

Consistent daimoku builds extraordinary resilience.

Age does not limit contribution or growth.

Encouraging youth creates lasting joy and purpose.

Human revolution changes both self and environment.

Forward With Determination

Today, at 85 years young, I determine to:

Continue striving alongside youth division members

Help more people encounter this philosophy

Support people in transforming their karma

Advance joyfully for worldwide kosen-rufu

Above all, I want to continue proving through my life that Buddhism enables anyone — at any age — to live with courage, dignity, contribution, and limitless hope.

Inspired by a published Buddhist experience and retold with commentary, reflection, and adapted storytelling.