Becoming a Smiling Queen Through Every Storm
Shreya Mehta lost her father when she was only seven years old.
Her mother singlehandedly raised both her and her sister.
Growing up without a father’s support left a deep emotional impact on her life.
She became timid, weak-hearted, and fearful of challenges.
In 2003, she moved to Delhi to pursue her MBA and eventually began working there.
Two years later, she encountered Nichiren Buddhism.
At first, she could never have imagined how profoundly this practice would transform her life.
The fearful young girl slowly began discovering an entirely different version of herself.
Discovering Confidence Through Faith
After encountering Sensei’s philosophy, Shreya immersed herself sincerely in faith and Gakkai activities.
As a YWD leader, she steadily took on more and more responsibilities.
With every challenge she faced in faith, her confidence grew.
Gradually, she transformed into someone capable of confronting life head-on.
Benefits also began appearing naturally in her environment.
She experienced:
Financial stability
A successful professional life
The ability to purchase her own home
But one experience touched her heart most deeply.
Her mother miraculously recovered after spending 46 days on ventilator support.
During these years, one personal encouragement from Ikeda Sensei became her lifelong source of courage:
“You master all manner of sadness, ever triumphant smiling queen.”
Those words stayed with her constantly.
Then came another defining moment.
In March 2018, she participated in the historic World Youth General Meeting in Japan.
That experience became her prime point in faith.
She no longer saw herself as fragile or helpless — she began seeing herself as a disciple capable of victory.
Learning to Enjoy Life Fully
In May 2020, Shreya graduated from the young women’s division into the women’s division while still unmarried.
Initially, this transition left her emotionally disheartened.
But gradually, she realized something important:
The direct training she had received as a YWD could never go to waste.
She received guidance to become a “sun of hope” through prayer.
Her WD training began during the difficult pandemic period in a newly formed district.
Rather than retreating inwardly, she challenged herself intensely.
She started a personal 30-day daimoku campaign.
Every day, she woke up at 4:30 a.m. to chant for three hours and twenty minutes.
On some days, she even challenged herself to chant ten hours.
Gradually, the district atmosphere transformed.
Members deepened their faith and attendance improved significantly.
Meanwhile, Shreya herself challenged:
Six million daimoku
200 phone visits
20 dialogues
Fostering youth and new members
Her sincere efforts reflected everywhere.
At work, she received a promotion.
In Gakkai, she took responsibility as WD deputy chapter chief.
Yet one prayer still remained unanswered.
There was still no sign of a kosen-rufu partner.
Doubts slowly began creeping into her mind.
On seeking guidance, she was encouraged:
To trust the timing of the Gohonzon.
To focus on polishing her own Buddhahood.
And to believe that true good fortune would naturally emerge.
Something shifted deeply within her after that.
Instead of worrying about marriage constantly, she began genuinely enjoying:
Her own life
Her work
Gakkai activities
Meeting new people
The loneliness gradually disappeared.
For the first time, she felt fulfilled exactly as she was.
And then, naturally and unexpectedly, Rahul entered her life.
The two happily got married.
When she stopped chasing fulfillment externally, life itself began responding differently.
The Battle That Shook Her Deeply
In March 2023, shortly after celebrating their first wedding anniversary, Shreya and Rahul began planning for their future family.
Then suddenly, everything changed.
A slight pain in her left arm led to medical tests.
Then came a biopsy.
And finally, a diagnosis that shook her completely:
Stage 2 breast cancer.
The news felt devastating.
But this time, she resolved not to collapse emotionally.
One guidance from Sensei became her anchor:
“Falling ill is not a form of failure or defeat.”
(WCHP-1, Happiness)
Instead of drowning in fear, she chose gratitude for the early detection.
She determined to demonstrate actual proof as Sensei’s disciple.
After her first chemotherapy session, severe side effects struck:
Nausea
Severe stomach pain
Loss of appetite
Fever
Dangerously low blood count
She required emergency hospitalization.
Yet even during this painful period, she continued chanting for:
The best treatment
The best medical response
The highest life force
Little by little, fear transformed into determination.
Faith Became Her Greatest Medicine
Shreya challenged every chemotherapy session through faith.
Even while undergoing treatment, she took full responsibility to support the May 3rd Campaign.
She continued:
Phone visits
Daimoku campaigns
Buddhist study
Encouragement of members
Remarkably, her chapter achieved its daimoku and attendance goals joyfully.
And something extraordinary began happening physically as well.
The more she immersed herself in one campaign after another, the stronger her life force became.
The side effects gradually reduced.
Eventually, she successfully completed:
16 chemotherapy sessions
15 radiation sessions
Surgery
During this entire period, she chanted one million daimoku.
Exactly one year after her diagnosis, she was declared cancer-free.
The battle that once terrified her became the greatest proof of her inner transformation.
Victories Beyond Illness
Throughout her treatment, she also received extraordinary support from her workplace.
Her company allowed her to work from home without salary loss.
The company’s medical insurance covered her treatment expenses fully.
Despite everything she was going through, she:
Received a promotion
Earned one of the highest performance ratings
Received a salary hike
Meanwhile, her Gakkai chapter expanded from three districts to four.
To celebrate her victory over cancer, Rahul took her on her dream vacation to the United States.
But more than external victories, something much deeper had changed.
The timid girl who once lived with fear and loneliness had transformed into a woman filled with gratitude, mission, and courage.
A Line That Stayed With Me
“You master all manner of sadness, ever triumphant smiling queen.”
Reflection
Many people believe confidence is something people are born with.
But Buddhism teaches that courage is something developed gradually through consistent human revolution.
Shreya’s journey shows that real transformation does not happen overnight.
It happens through:
Daily prayer
Facing fears honestly
Encouraging others sincerely
Continuing to move forward despite uncertainty
Sometimes, the greatest victory is not merely overcoming illness.
It is becoming the kind of person who can smile, encourage others, and remain undefeated even amidst suffering.
Key Takeaways
Human revolution gradually transforms fear into courage.
Faith can help people face life-threatening illness with hope.
True fulfillment begins when one stops depending on external validation.
Supporting others strengthens one’s own life deeply.
Challenges often become the greatest opportunities for growth.
Forward With Determination
Today, Shreya remains deeply determined to:
Continue walking the path of mentor and disciple
Treasure and encourage every person she meets
Raise capable successors toward 2030
Advance kosen-rufu with gratitude and joy
Above all, she remains committed to living as a victorious “smiling queen” — someone who transforms every sadness into hope and courage.
Inspired by a published Buddhist experience and retold with commentary, reflection, and adapted storytelling.