Breaking Free from Addiction to Discover My Mission

When I was in Grade 11, my best friend introduced me to Nichiren Buddhism. At that stage of my life, I believed I did not need any spiritual practice. I was confident that I could manage everything on my own.

College soon challenged that illusion.

I constantly compared myself with others. No matter what I achieved, someone always appeared more successful, more talented, or more confident. My insecurity quietly grew until I began depending on alcohol and drugs to escape my own thoughts.

Eventually, my life spiraled out of control.

I failed every subject in college, and the administration warned that I could be expelled. With no other option, I entered rehabilitation. Recovery was far from easy. Each time I relapsed, my best friend patiently encouraged me to begin again, sharing Ikeda Sensei's guidance and reminding me never to give up on myself.

After nearly a year of struggle, I finally overcame my addiction.

I completed my graduation, earned admission into a prestigious MBA program, and eventually secured my dream job in advertising. From the outside, it appeared that I had rebuilt my life completely.

Inside, however, nothing had truly changed.

Success gradually turned into arrogance. The pressure of my workplace, combined with my old habit of comparing myself with others, pulled me back toward alcohol and drugs. Along with addiction came anxiety, declining physical and mental health, deep shame, and complete confusion about what I truly wanted from life.

In 2019, I finally began chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo sincerely.

This time, I did not practice merely to solve problems. I wanted to understand myself.

I immersed myself in studying The Human Revolution, A Youthful Diary, The New Human Revolution, the Gosho, and Sensei's guidance. The more I studied Buddhist concepts such as the Ten Worlds and the limitless potential within each moment of life, the more honestly I began examining my own tendencies.

I realized that beneath my addiction lay deep selfishness, insecurity, and a lack of gratitude toward the people who loved me most.

Around this period, I also met the man who would later become my husband.

Inspired by Sensei's guidance on youth, I determined to build our relationship on mutual respect, trust, and shared growth rather than emotional dependence.

However, my father strongly opposed both my relationship and my Buddhist practice.

Initially, I reacted with anger. Every disagreement became an argument. Instead of winning his trust, I was pushing him further away.

Seeking guidance helped me recognize that the real battle was not with my father but with my own life condition.

I resolved to transform myself first.

Rather than trying to convince him through words, I focused on becoming someone worthy of his trust. At the same time, I devoted myself wholeheartedly to encouraging members within my district. Through consistent home visits, sincere dialogue, and caring for one person after another, our district steadily grew and eventually expanded into a chapter.

As my own life changed, so did my relationship with my father.

I gradually learned to understand his concerns instead of reacting defensively. Whenever I behaved poorly, I apologized sincerely. Slowly, our conversations became warmer. Eventually, the same father who had opposed my practice began encouraging me never to give it up.

Meanwhile, my partner also embraced Buddhist practice, and with the blessings of both families, we were happily married.

Marriage brought another fresh beginning.

After moving to Gurugram, my husband and I found ourselves almost alone as practicing youth members in our chapter. Without an active support system, I struggled to maintain my rhythm of meetings and home visits. Professionally, art assignments became irregular, financial pressures increased, and once again my life condition began to decline.

Unlike the past, however, I no longer ran away from difficulties.

Instead of focusing on my problems, I focused on my mission.

I determined to help build the most youthful chapter possible by raising new young women's division members while simultaneously pursuing my dream of creating a series of paintings inspired by the Gosho. My vision is to eventually organize an exhibition that expresses Buddhist philosophy through art.

To support this determination, I challenged myself to conduct 150 home visits within three months.

Our chapter actively participated in environmental initiatives, doubled attendance across discussion meetings, encouraged members to appear for Buddhist study examinations, and witnessed the joyful emergence of new young women leaders.

Every small victory strengthened my conviction that genuine happiness comes from encouraging others.

Professionally, I also continued growing. I taught myself digital illustration, accepted smaller creative assignments to support myself financially, and steadily began building my portfolio while completing paintings for my future exhibition.

Looking back today, I no longer define my life by addiction, failure, or insecurity.

Those struggles became the very experiences that taught me gratitude, compassion, humility, and perseverance. Every obstacle pushed me closer to discovering my real purpose—not simply becoming a successful artist, but becoming someone who creates hope through both my art and my life.

With deep gratitude to my mentor, I remain determined to build a vibrant chapter filled with capable youth leaders, inspire others through my creative work, and continue proving through my own human revolution that every person has the power to transform even the darkest chapter of their life into one of hope, beauty, and victory.