Becoming The Happiest YWD Through Human Revolution
I grew up in a family of seven surrounded by constant disunity and emotional distance.
Because of the atmosphere at home, I became an extremely vulnerable and underconfident person.
I constantly compared myself with others and quietly begrudged my own life.
In 2012, when my youngest brother fell critically ill, I desperately searched for relief and even tried another spiritual practice.
But despite all efforts, I found no inner peace.
Everything began changing when I encountered Nichiren Buddhism in 2015.
I started doing gongyo, chanting daimoku, and attending Gakkai meetings regularly.
Very naturally, I also began praying for transformation in my work life.
At that time, I was employed in a reputed public sector organization, but my role and designation did not reflect my qualifications or capabilities.
Learning To Cherish My Family And Myself
Alongside my prayers for work, I also challenged myself to improve my family relationships.
I started visiting my hometown Nagpur more often and made conscious efforts to celebrate festivals with my family.
As I began cherishing my family members more sincerely, something unexpected happened.
I slowly began respecting my own life too.
Confidence that I had never experienced before started emerging naturally.
At the same time, my youngest brother recovered from his life-threatening illness.
But just when life seemed to improve, another challenge appeared.
My eldest brother slipped into severe depression and left his job.
Instead of becoming discouraged, I decided to fight even harder in faith and Gakkai activities.
I also challenged myself seriously at work.
Then in December 2018, I received a major breakthrough — I was promoted as a Class 1 officer.
Gradually, my eldest brother also overcame depression and secured a good job.
Facing My Relationship Karma
Meanwhile, another struggle deeply troubled me.
My parents were unhappy because I repeatedly refused marriage proposals.
Due to painful failed relationships in the past, I had lost faith not only in love, but also in myself.
Yet somewhere deep inside, I longed to meet a life partner with whom I could advance kosen-rufu together.
At the same time, new challenges emerged at my workplace.
Basing myself on abundant daimoku, I conducted sincere dialogues with colleagues and gradually won their trust.
I also challenged myself in shakubuku and introduced eight people to the practice, including my own boss.
However, in January 2021, I hit one of the lowest points in my life.
Extreme anxiety overwhelmed me.
I was filled with doubts and often did not even feel like chanting.
I kept wondering:
“Why am I unable to break through my marriage karma despite striving so sincerely?”
During that period, my senior in faith encouraged me with this Gosho passage:
“Nevertheless, even though you chant and believe in Myoho-renge-kyo, if you think the Law is outside yourself, you are embracing not the Mystic Law but an inferior teaching.”
(‘On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime’, WND-1, 3)
Through this guidance, I realized that I was basing my happiness on external circumstances.
That realization changed everything.
I made a fresh determination:
I will become the happiest YWD.
Studying Ikeda Sensei’s guidance daily helped me replace fear with courage and self-doubt with self-belief.
Unleashing My Full Potential
In 2022, while fighting as a YWD zone chief and Student Division area incharge, I focused deeply on encouraging members.
I studied Sensei’s guidance together with them and wholeheartedly supported discussion meetings and DOU meetings.
Then in 2023, after being appointed YWD Deputy Area Chief, I challenged myself to personally visit YWD members.
In just seven months, I visited 110 YWDs.
At the same time, I worked extremely hard at my workplace and received another promotion without even needing to appear for an examination.
Benefits also flowed beautifully into my family:
My younger brother completed his master’s degree and began applying for jobs
My eldest brother got happily married and became a father
My older sister was blessed with twins after eight years of marriage
All of them embraced Nichiren Buddhism
For the first time in our lives, our family became truly united and joyful.
By then, I was working as an Assistant Manager.
Most importantly, after chanting five million daimoku specifically to transform my relationship karma since 2019, I finally met my kosen-rufu partner.
We got married in November 2023.
My husband is also a frontline leader in Gakkai.
Fighting For Youth With A Stand-Alone Spirit
Marriage brought happiness, but also significantly increased responsibilities at home and work.
There were days when exhaustion overwhelmed me completely.
Still, I constantly reminded myself:
I cannot slacken in responding to Sensei.
I renewed my determination and increased my daimoku.
With the spirit of forging bonds of trust and friendship, I traveled long distances across Pune during weekends to meet YWD members personally.
I made it a point to chant 30 minutes of daimoku with every YWD I met, praying sincerely for:
Their happiness
Their victories
Their growth as capable disciples of Ikeda Sensei
Through these efforts:
I reached out to 75 YWDs
10 inactive YWDs restarted their practice
10 new leaders were appointed in a zone that previously had no YWD zone or region chief
The transformation in the organization was incredible.
Attendance at the West India 1 Area YWD meetings increased dramatically:
284 YWDs attended in June 2024
961 attended in July 2024
Becoming Truly Happy
Looking back over these nine years of practice, I realize that my greatest victory is not external.
It is the transformation within my own life.
I have won over anxiety.
I no longer feel incomplete or unhappy.
Today, I feel contented, peaceful, and deeply grateful for my life.
With deepest gratitude to Ikeda Sensei and Mrs. Ikeda, I now determine to continue advancing with a stand-alone spirit and illuminate countless lives with the hope of Nichiren Buddhism.
Sensei, I am that one disciple.
You can count on me.