Carrying Forward the Spirit of the Pioneers
Sandeep Kulkarni was introduced to Nichiren Buddhism in 1993 by his father, one of the pioneering members who had begun practicing in 1981.
At that time, life at home revolved around caregiving and responsibility.
His mother was suffering from dementia.
His elder brother battled paranoid schizophrenia.
Both were entirely dependent on Sandeep and his father for support and daily care.
The emotional and physical demands were immense.
Yet amid the hardship, Sandeep witnessed something extraordinary.
Despite endless challenges, his father continued advancing steadily with faith in Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.
Together, father and son summoned strength they themselves never knew they possessed.
Faith became the invisible force holding the entire family together.
Discovering His Mission Through Loss
Despite their sincere efforts, tragedy struck repeatedly.
Between 1997 and 1998, Sandeep lost both his mother and elder brother.
For many people, such loss might have created bitterness or despair.
But for Sandeep, something profoundly different happened.
Through Buddhism, he began understanding the eternity of life more deeply.
He realized that life extends far beyond birth and death.
Instead of feeling spiritually defeated, he renewed his vow to his mentor and strengthened his faith day after day.
As a young men’s division member — especially during his years as a Sokahan — one passage from Nichiren Daishonin deeply stayed with him:
“Being known as a votary of the Lotus Sutra is a bitter, yet unavoidable, destiny.”
(“Letter to Jakunichi-bo,” WND-1, p. 994)
Those words became deeply personal.
Sandeep resolved to stop viewing hardship as punishment and instead see it as part of his mission.
He challenged himself to transform every negative tendency within his life through human revolution.
Rather than escaping difficulties, he determined to grow strong enough to face them joyfully.
Polishing Himself Through Faith
Over the years, Sandeep consciously worked on transforming himself internally.
He developed habits of:
Punctuality
Humility
Consistency
A youthful spirit in faith
Even during difficult periods, he continued balancing:
Family responsibilities
Professional work as a journalist
Gakkai activities
What surprised him most was that sincere efforts for kosen-rufu never depleted his energy.
Instead, they expanded his capacity.
Gradually, Buddhism stopped being merely a practice.
It became the guiding rhythm of his entire life.
Working for the Advancement of Kosen-rufu
In 2006, Sandeep received the opportunity to join the first outstation branch of Eternal Ganges in Mumbai.
For him, this was not merely a career shift.
It was a mission.
Sensei’s guidance regarding the importance of Soka Gakkai publications deeply inspired him:
“Soka Gakkai publications can have a powerful impact in that they enable readers to steadily develop a solid understanding of the Soka Gakkai and our movement.”
(NHR-26, “Atsuta Chapter”)
From the very first issue of Value Creation in January 2006, Sandeep worked tirelessly to distribute publications and encourage subscriptions among members.
Then, in 2007, another deeply emotional turning point arrived.
His father passed away.
While chanting for his eternal happiness, Sandeep reflected deeply on the immense debt of gratitude he owed him — not only as a parent, but as the person who had introduced him to Buddhism.
At that moment, he made a solemn personal pledge:
To preserve and transmit the spirit of the pioneer members through his work.
His profession itself became an expression of mentor-disciple spirit.
Standing Strong During the Pandemic
Years later, the COVID-19 pandemic created one of the greatest challenges modern society had faced.
Members everywhere struggled with:
Isolation
Job loss
Illness
Fear and uncertainty
For Sandeep, the crisis became another opportunity to renew his vow.
He determined to help members stay connected to the mentor and strengthen their faith through publications and encouragement.
The Mumbai branch adapted rapidly to changing circumstances.
Working within safety regulations, the team shifted smoothly toward courier distribution systems.
Late nights became common.
But the goal remained clear:
Ensure members never felt disconnected from the lifeline of faith.
Even during global uncertainty, the banner of kosen-rufu continued advancing steadily.
Reviving Men’s Division Members
During and after the pandemic, Sandeep also became deeply concerned about the condition of many men’s division members.
Several leaders had become inactive.
Others had drifted away due to financial pressure, illness, or overwhelming family responsibilities.
Sandeep began chanting intensely with one determination:
That every men’s division member in the zone would revive and strengthen their faith once again.
Monthly MD Pillar meetings gradually became spaces of fresh momentum and encouragement.
Slowly but steadily, attendance began increasing.
Members who had distanced themselves started reconnecting.
By the Men’s Division General Meeting, many inactive members returned with renewed determination and shared fresh victories.
One person’s determination had quietly reignited hope in hundreds of lives.
Victories at Home and in Faith
At home too, Sandeep experienced encouraging victories.
His daughter Sneha scored 96% in her ICSE Grade 10 examinations and secured admission to a premier commerce college in Mumbai — exactly what she had prayed for.
For Sandeep, such victories carried deep meaning.
They reflected not only academic success, but the protective power of sincere faith practiced consistently over decades.
Now entering his fourth decade of Buddhist practice, Sandeep feels his determination becoming even stronger.
Each day, he renews his vow to show actual proof through his life and continue advancing kosen-rufu with gratitude and unwavering spirit.
A Line That Stayed With Me
“Being known as a votary of the Lotus Sutra is a bitter, yet unavoidable, destiny.”
Reflection
Many people see suffering only as something to avoid.
But Buddhism teaches that difficulties can become the very path through which we discover our mission and deepen our humanity.
Sandeep’s journey shows that true strength is not built through comfort.
It is forged quietly through years of responsibility, perseverance, and sincere efforts to encourage others.
Sometimes, the most powerful contributions are not loud or dramatic.
They are the steady, consistent actions that help countless people continue believing in hope.
Key Takeaways
Faith helps transform suffering into mission and purpose.
Consistent efforts for others expand one’s inner capacity.
Human revolution begins by challenging negative tendencies within.
Encouragement and publications can deeply strengthen faith.
True gratitude is expressed through lifelong contribution.
Forward With Determination
Today, Sandeep remains deeply determined to:
Strengthen members’ connection to the mentor
Advance kosen-rufu through publications and encouragement
Support men’s division members sincerely
Continue showing actual proof through his own life
Above all, he remains committed to carrying forward the spirit of the pioneers with gratitude and unwavering faith.
Inspired by a published Buddhist experience and retold with commentary, reflection, and adapted storytelling.