Becoming A Young Lion Of Hope
I began practicing Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism in 2015 when I was studying in Class 11.
At that time, I was an underconfident teenager struggling deeply with self-belief.
My grandfather had recently passed away due to bone cancer.
At the same time:
My father’s business was facing severe difficulties
Anxiety filled our home
Uncertainty overshadowed our future
I often doubted whether I was capable of achieving anything meaningful in life.
Then I encountered Nichiren Buddhism.
And slowly, my entire perspective toward life began changing.
Discovering Courage Through Faith
As I became part of the world of Soka, I encountered my mentor in Ikeda Sensei.
Through:
Chanting daimoku
Studying Sensei’s guidance
Participating in activities
I realized something profound:
Buddhism is not about escaping suffering.
It is about bringing forth the limitless courage and wisdom already existing within our lives.
In 2016, I challenged one of my greatest fears.
I participated in a debate competition.
Standing confidently on stage and speaking publicly felt almost impossible to me earlier.
Yet that day, I spoke with confidence.
For me, it felt nothing short of a miracle.
That experience convinced me that when I base my life on daimoku, I truly can transform myself.
Fighting Against Self-Doubt
In November 2018, fresh challenges arose at home.
My father’s business entered a major crisis.
The construction of our house stopped midway.
My relationship with my father also deteriorated badly.
Instead of blaming circumstances, however, I realized I needed to transform my own life condition first.
I began chanting:
At least 3 hours and 20 minutes daily
Sometimes even 8–10 hours
At the same time, I immersed myself deeply in study.
Within four months, I completed seven volumes of The New Human Revolution .
By March 16th the following year, I had completed one million daimoku.
Within the next 90 days, I completed another million.
Alongside fellow YMD members, I sincerely encouraged many youths struggling with:
Studies
Family issues
Lack of confidence
Emotional confusion
One Gosho passage became my constant source of hope:
“Winter always turns to spring.”
(‘Winter Always Turns to Spring’, WND-1, 536)
Gradually, visible benefits began appearing:
Our house construction resumed
My father’s business improved
I could finally enshrine my Gohonzon
Then in August 2020, my father’s health suddenly deteriorated.
Once again, our family challenged the situation through daimoku and overcame the crisis together.
Awakening Youth In Himachal
For years, I had been praying sincerely for Student Division youth in Himachal Pradesh to rise as young lions.
At the beginning of 2025, that prayer finally began taking shape.
We formed the Himachal Pradesh University campus group.
Watching young people:
Chant daimoku
Fight self-doubt
Move forward with hope
filled my heart with deep gratitude.
At the same time, I developed a strong determination to create many more campus groups across North India.
But soon, another major challenge struck my family.
Crossing The “Uji River”
In March 2025, my mother began suffering repeated pulse attacks.
Doctors diagnosed her with severe sinus tachycardia.
The situation became frightening.
Doctors warned that surgery itself was risky and that a pacemaker might become necessary.
During that period, one Gosho passage became my lifeline:
“You must be firmly resolved… This is where you will cross the Uji River.”
(‘Letter to Yasaburo’, WND-1, 829)
I determined not to be defeated.
I:
Chanted deeply
Continued encouraging youth
Strengthened my faith further
My mother also began chanting sincerely.
Then something remarkable happened.
Her surgery was completed successfully in just one-and-a-half hours.
Today, she is completely healthy.
This victory strengthened my conviction that daimoku truly brings forth immeasurable protection and wisdom.
Turning My Profession Into Mission
Meanwhile, I applied for a role at Shoolini University.
On August 19th, 2025, I joined as an Aptitude Trainer.
From the very beginning, I regarded this job not merely as employment, but as a mission entrusted to me by Ikeda Sensei.
I wanted to encourage youth and advance kosen-rufu through education.
Alongside my professional responsibilities, I began extensively visiting Student Division and YMD members.
I completed over 100 home visits.
Each visit became an opportunity to:
Listen deeply
Pray sincerely
Encourage youth struggling with life
Their challenges often included:
Academic pressure
Relationship struggles
Family conflict
Health issues
Lack of self-belief
I also engaged in heartfelt dialogues with students and colleagues at the university.
Creating Hope Through Literature And Dialogue
As another beautiful benefit of the practice, I overcame my relationship karma and met my life partner.
Then in November 2025, I received an unexpected opportunity.
I became part of a special library initiative that allowed selected faculty members to order books freely.
I immediately ordered several of Ikeda Sensei’s books focused on:
Youth
Human revolution
Hope
Today, watching students read those books fills me with immense joy.
I feel that Sensei’s encouragement is directly reaching young people through those pages.
Within just four months, Student Division membership on campus grew from zero to 15.
As Deputy Area Student Division Incharge, I also visited IIT Mandi in Kullu Mandi Region — nearly six hours away from Solan.
There, we successfully held the first-ever Student Division Boys Meeting for the region.
I also continued supporting youth across North India through e-visits and constant encouragement.
On March 16th this year, I completed my ninth million daimoku.
I was also selected for the Indo–Latin America SGI Hokkaido Training Course.
Toward the course, I determined to:
Chant 250 hours in 60 days
Conduct 60 home visits
Accomplish 10 shakubuku
Building A New Future For Himachal
Recently, due to the growth of kosen-rufu activities in Himachal:
Our zone split into two
Our region expanded further
I also took responsibility as YMD Zone Chief for the newly formed Himachal South Zone.
Looking back, I feel immense gratitude.
The fearful teenager who once doubted himself completely has now become someone determined to create hope for countless youth.
A Line That Stayed With Me
“Winter always turns to spring.”
Reflection
Many young people silently struggle with self-doubt and fear.
Often, external challenges make them believe they are weak or incapable.
My journey taught me that confidence is not something we are born with permanently.
It is developed gradually through:
Consistent prayer
Taking courageous action
Encouraging others
Challenging limitations daily
Buddhism helped me understand that true strength emerges precisely when we continue advancing despite fear.
And often, the very struggles we once hated become the source of our greatest mission.
Key Takeaways
Human revolution begins with challenging self-doubt.
Consistent daimoku builds inner courage gradually.
Encouraging youth creates hope for society.
Challenges can become the source of one’s mission.
Faith transforms fear into action and confidence.
Forward With Determination
Today, with deep gratitude to the Gohonzon and Ikeda Sensei, I determine to:
Lead kosen-rufu in Himachal Pradesh
Establish a kaikan by 2030
Create the happiest YMD division in my zone
Build a BSG cultural center in Himachal
Help create one million invincible Bodhisattvas of the Earth
I also determine to become a humanistic mathematics scholar and, like Ikeda Sensei, use writing to spread hope and happiness.
Inspired by a published Buddhist experience and retold with commentary, reflection, and adapted storytelling.