From Comparison And Self-Doubt To A Life Of Purpose And Joy

I began practicing Nichiren Buddhism in 2008 as a Young Lion.

At that time, my only wish was to become rich and famous as quickly as possible.

Deep inside, I was an unhappy teenager.

I constantly compared myself with others and depended heavily on praise and validation to feel good about myself.

If someone else succeeded, I felt insecure.

If I received appreciation, I felt temporarily happy.

My happiness depended entirely on external circumstances.

My First Turning Point

In 2010, several difficult things happened one after another.

I went through a painful breakup

I failed an academic year

I sustained injuries as an athlete

Those experiences shook me deeply.

For the first time, I began taking my Buddhist practice seriously.

Instead of chasing recognition alone, I started focusing on advancing kosen-rufu, chanting sincerely, attending activities, and regularly studying Value Creation .

With constant encouragement from my leaders, I also persevered in my studies — something I had always struggled with and often wanted to abandon.

Eventually, I graduated with a first class.

Victories Begin To Emerge

In 2014, I enshrined the Gohonzon.

That same year, my college athletics team and I broke a 23-year-old Mumbai University record — a record that still stands today.

I also received an academic award for topping one of my postgraduate subjects.

The following year, I completed my master’s degree with first class.

Meanwhile, I took responsibility as a chapter chief in 2015 and later as a region chief in 2016.

Outwardly, my life looked successful.

But internally, I was still battling comparison, jealousy, and the need for validation.

Facing My Real Enemy

I was striving sincerely in faith, practice, and study.

Yet the joy of kosen-rufu always felt incomplete because I constantly compared my journey with others.

A senior leader once encouraged me to challenge this tendency through abundant daimoku and human revolution.

That guidance became a major turning point.

In 2017, I wrote to Ikeda Sensei sharing my determination to chant 52 million daimoku by 2030.

I also deeply engraved this guidance in my life:

“The brilliance of true humanity … lies in surmounting feelings of envy with the resolute attitude, ‘I’ll create an even more wonderful life for myself’. If you are jealous of others, you will not advance; you will only become miserable.”

(Faith Into Action)

Those words became my mirror.

Since then, over seven years, I have chanted more than 25.5 million daimoku.

Turning Dreams Into Reality

During the pandemic, the training I received through the New Age Youth Trailblazers Academy deeply strengthened my spirit.

For years, I had dreamed of starting my own clothing brand but fear always stopped me.

Finally, based on daimoku and Sensei’s guidance, I decided to challenge it seriously.

Amid chanting four hours daily, helping my mother with household chores, and participating in Gakkai activities, I began building my brand step by step.

In 2021, I launched my own athleisure clothing line.

Later, I also started my own fitness academy — another dream I had carried for years.

However, success brought a new challenge.

I became extremely busy.

Slowly, I reduced my daimoku.

My determination weakened and my life condition declined.

There were tensions at home as well.

I realized once again that external success alone cannot sustain happiness.

Returning To The Basics

At the start of 2022, I renewed my determination.

I increased my daimoku and returned to studying Sensei’s guidance seriously.

Once physical meetings resumed, I began traveling nearly 450 kilometers regularly to visit YMD members in outstation areas.

I also started making monthly financial contributions for kosen-rufu.

Then another obstacle appeared.

Last year, my clothing brand faced severe financial shortage and production came to a halt.

At the same time, I struggled to expand my client base as a freelance fitness trainer.

Despite these challenges, I continued striving in faith.

During one discussion with a senior leader, I realized something important:

I had become so focused on my own struggles that I had stopped doing home visits sincerely.

That realization hit me deeply.

The Joy Of Encouraging Others

I made a fresh determination:

I will personally visit every YMD member in my zone and every student division member in my area.

I challenged myself to:

Complete work efficiently

Do home visits daily

Conduct e-visits regularly

Travel wherever necessary to encourage members

In the last nine months alone, I completed:

152 home visits

101 e-visits

Meetings with more than 60 student division members

As YMD members began reporting victories in their lives, I experienced genuine joy.

Their victories felt like my own.

Slowly, something inside me changed.

I stopped comparing.

I stopped chasing validation.

I started genuinely appreciating others.

The Biggest Victory

My external life also began transforming again.

As an athlete and fitness trainer, I had always prayed to live a healthy life.

After years of struggle, I finally stopped eating junk food, sweets, and unhealthy meals completely in May last year.

Clients seeking my guidance as a fitness coach continued increasing steadily.

And now, I am in the final stages of building a new team to restart my clothing brand production.

But honestly, my greatest victory is internal.

I no longer compare myself with others.

Living itself has become joyful.

Key Takeaways

External success cannot replace inner happiness.

Human revolution begins when we confront our deepest tendencies honestly.

Abundant daimoku gradually transforms insecurity into confidence.

Encouraging others helps heal our own life.

The joy of kosen-rufu surpasses the need for external validation.

Moving Forward

With deepest gratitude to Sensei, I now determine to become even more humble, appreciative, and compassionate.

Toward the future, I determine to:

Share Buddhism with 50 friends

Raise five capable YMDs in every district of my zone

Become a truly humanistic fitness trainer

Create a successful clothing brand that brings glory to my mentor

No matter what challenges arise, I will continue polishing my life through daimoku, mentor’s guidance, and sincere efforts for kosen-rufu.