Creating Hope In Society Began With Transforming My Own Life

I grew up in a lower middle-class family.

My father worked as a police officer, and his salary supported not only our immediate family but also a large extended family.

Financial instability, strained relationships, recurring health problems, and uncertainty about the future were constant realities in my life.

For many years, life felt like an uphill climb.

Discovering A New Direction In Life

About eight years ago, one of my friends introduced me to Nichiren Buddhism.

I began chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo sincerely.

Very quickly, I started noticing changes within myself.

I became emotionally stronger, calmer, and more hopeful.

Soon afterward, I secured a job aligned closely with my desire to contribute to society.

I joined a UN agency and moved from Lucknow to Raipur, where I worked with adolescents in conflict-affected areas.

Watching lives transform through encouragement and support deepened my conviction in the power of the Mystic Law.

Beginning My Journey As A Family

In December 2022, I received my Gohonzon.

Just one month later, I married my kosen-rufu partner.

In February 2023, we enshrined the Gohonzon in our home.

That moment felt deeply symbolic to me.

It marked the beginning of a shared journey rooted in faith, mutual growth, and a common mission.

A Difficult Transition

Because my husband was posted in Odisha, I applied for a transfer within my organization.

But the process became unexpectedly painful.

Due to misrepresentation regarding my conduct and abilities, the transfer was delayed for more than a year.

Emotionally, I felt isolated and misunderstood.

Yet during this difficult period, a YWD member reached out to me warmly and helped me reconnect with BSG in my new place of mission.

That encouragement became my lifeline.

I chanted abundant daimoku and eventually held sincere dialogues with both my old and new supervisors.

Finally, I successfully secured my transfer to Odisha.

Building Trust Through Compassion

In Odisha, I began working on adolescent empowerment and behavior change communication.

Initially, my senior doubted my capabilities.

At times, I questioned myself too.

But I continued moving forward based on this guidance from Ikeda Sensei:

“It is through our relationships with others that we develop and grow, learn from one another, help and support one another, and cultivate genuine humanity.”

(The New Human Revolution, vol. 30)

I visited schools and colleges regularly and conducted sessions focused on ending violence against children.

Gradually, trust began developing.

Conversations became more meaningful and heartfelt.

Eventually, my office entrusted me with designing a parenting module aimed at bridging generational gaps between parents and adolescents.

The initiative reached more than 3000 parents and helped many families develop greater empathy and understanding.

Extending Compassion Beyond Human Beings

Around the same period, my husband and I started a small shelter for nearly 20 stray dogs.

We personally took responsibility for feeding and vaccinating them.

Watching our efforts, people in the neighborhood gradually joined us.

Through sincere dialogues, we also encouraged four families to adopt stray dogs.

That experience taught me that compassion naturally expands when our life condition expands.

Taking Responsibility For Kosen-rufu

Last year, I was entrusted with responsibility as a district chief.

As part of Lotus Sambalpur Chapter, I traveled to remote areas where youth were struggling with severe economic and educational hardships.

Together, we:

Chanted daimoku

Studied the Gosho

Shared experiences

Created spaces of encouragement and resilience

Throughout this journey, the WD leaders supported me wholeheartedly.

I never felt alone.

Facing Career Stagnation

Despite meaningful work, internally I struggled with a sense of career stagnation.

I began praying sincerely for growth in both my husband’s and my professional lives.

Toward the July 3rd Campaign this year, I intensified my efforts in faith.

I challenged:

Two to four hours of daimoku daily

Heartfelt dialogues

Regular home visits

Building strong bonds with members

Within the district, we initiated several activities to strengthen unity:

Weekly study sessions

Relay daimoku

Alliance daimoku

Morning Gosho study sessions

We also studied A Youthful Diary and guidance for Ikeda Kayo-kai members, drawing inspiration directly from Sensei’s life.

Personally, during this period, I completed:

Volumes 1 and 28 of The New Human Revolution

The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra , volume 1

Expanding My Prayer Beyond Myself

My determination was to introduce 10 YWD members to the practice.

Collectively, the YWD members in our chapter introduced more than 10 New Friends.

I also actively supported Student Division members.

As I focused more on encouraging others, something profound changed within me.

I became:

More patient

More empathetic

Emotionally stronger

Clearer about my mission

Creating Value In Society

One of the most meaningful breakthroughs during this phase was designing a mental health program for police officers.

This initiative came from personally witnessing the silent stress and hypertension faced by a close family member in the police force.

The response was overwhelming.

Later, I also conducted a special session on sexual and reproductive health for women police officers.

More than 100 women openly shared challenges related to:

Menstrual health

Sanitation

Long work hours

Lack of accessible facilities

During the festival season, we coordinated efforts with homes, hospitals, and hotels to provide clean restroom access for women officers on duty.

That experience deeply moved me.

I realized that true kosen-rufu means creating tangible value in society through compassion and action.

Moving To A New Land Of Mission

Recently, my husband and I received transfer orders to Balasore.

The region has its own social sensitivities and challenges.

But instead of fear, I now feel determination.

I want to continue advancing kosen-rufu there with the same spirit.

I also hope that the successors in our current department continue the initiatives we began together.

What I Learned

Looking back, I realize Buddhism transformed far more than my circumstances.

It transformed my heart.

I learned:

True happiness is shared happiness

Human revolution begins with changing ourselves

Encouraging others strengthens our own life

Challenges become opportunities when based on faith

My Determination

With gratitude, purpose, and deep conviction, I determine to continue:

Advancing kosen-rufu joyfully

Supporting youth and women sincerely

Creating value in society

Deepening my faith every day

No matter where life takes me, I want my life itself to become a source of hope for others.