From Fear Of Failure To A Global Mission For Humanity

I began practicing Nichiren Buddhism 20 years ago.

Looking back now, I realize that every major challenge in my life was preparing me for a much bigger mission than I could imagine at that time.

Years Of Struggle And Transformation

In 2015, I was inducted into the first batch of the 21st Century Ikeda Successors Academy of India.

Those three years became a period of intense inner transformation.

Externally, life looked difficult:

I was battling depression

My family was struggling financially

My father suffered a severe heart attack

My mother was approaching retirement with uncertainty ahead

But through consistent faith, practice, and study, I witnessed extraordinary changes.

My father recovered miraculously.

My mother received five service extensions after retirement age.

And academically, I transformed completely.

I rose from being among the bottom 100 students in law school to graduating among the top 10.

After graduation, I joined a law firm and began my professional journey.

The Pandemic And A New Determination

During the pandemic in 2020, I challenged three million daimoku.

At the same time, I focused intensely on youth activities.

In our region, the number of YMD members increased from 15 to 103, while discussion meeting attendance crossed 70 youth.

Those sincere efforts for kosen-rufu completely changed my life direction.

Two major breakthroughs emerged from that period:

I gained the courage to shift my career from law to climate policy

I encountered an essay by Ikeda Sensei that changed my life forever

The essay was titled:

“Boston: The Power of Positivity and Optimism.”

In it, Sensei shared the motto of the Ikeda Center in Boston:

“Be the heart of a network of global citizens. Be a bridge for dialogue between civilizations. Be a beacon lighting the way to a century of life.”

Those words pierced straight into my heart.

For the first time, I felt a powerful calling:

I wanted to study at Harvard and dedicate my life toward creating a century of life.

The Dream Felt Impossible

The problem was:

Nothing about my reality matched that dream.

I had two backlogs during college

My academic score was only 67 percent

The Harvard tuition fee was over ₹1 crore

I had failed Mathematics twice in Grade 12

I had not touched statistics for years

Pursuing public policy at Harvard required strong quantitative skills.

Objectively speaking, the dream looked unrealistic.

But Sensei’s guidance never allowed me to feel defeated.

I continued praying sincerely to study at Harvard.

My Greatest Qualification

In 2021, I joined a new organization despite having no formal experience in public policy.

To my surprise, I was immediately entrusted with serious responsibilities:

Writing a UN report alongside global researchers

Drafting state government policies

Working with senior scientists and policymakers

That period taught me something important:

My greatest qualification was being Ikeda Sensei’s disciple.

At the workplace, however, things were not always smooth.

My manager often criticized and disparaged me.

Initially, I felt hurt.

But gradually, I transformed those comments into prayers for my human revolution.

I determined to win her trust through my behavior rather than react emotionally.

Then came an unexpected victory.

During the April 2023 appraisal cycle, the same manager gave me one of the highest ratings and salary increments.

Confronting My Fear Of Statistics

One of my deepest fears was statistics.

Sensei’s guidance about challenging subjects beyond one’s comfort zone inspired me to confront it directly.

I somehow barely cleared the entrance exam for an online statistics course.

Then began one of the hardest periods of my life.

I attended:

Weekly statistics tests

Personal tuition sessions

Weekend GRE coaching classes

All this while continuing a demanding full-time job.

Many times, I doubted myself.

But every time fear arose, daimoku gave me the strength to continue.

Living As A Youth Chief Of Staff

Meanwhile, my Gakkai responsibilities also expanded.

I took responsibility as:

YMD Zone Chief

Student Division Area Chief

Campus Groups Incharge at the all-India level

Balancing everything often felt overwhelming.

Still, I continued home visits and dialogues sincerely.

After a long time, my zone conducted a YMD meeting with 19 youth in attendance.

One evening, when I was feeling emotionally exhausted, I opened The New Human Revolution randomly.

The passage I encountered discussed Harvard University.

At that moment, I felt as though Sensei was directly aware of my struggle.

I became fearless again.

Renewing My Vow After Sensei’s Passing

When the news of Sensei’s passing reached us, I was deeply shaken.

But alongside grief, I felt an even stronger determination arise:

I must fulfill my mission as his disciple.

I applied to Harvard.

I also visited Daiseido.

Chanting alongside Sensei’s voice there, I made a fresh vow to dedicate my life to kosen-rufu.

The Moment Everything Changed

After returning to India, I plunged into the March 16th Campaign with complete seriousness.

I began chanting more than three hours daily.

On March 14th, I challenged 10 hours of daimoku.

Just as I was about to complete the tenth hour, I received an email notification.

My hands trembled as I opened it.

I had been admitted to Harvard University.

Not only that:

I received a full scholarship

I secured two additional prestigious scholarships

I also received a scholarship from Cambridge University for sustainability policy studies

At Harvard, I would additionally have opportunities to attend classes at MIT and the Fletcher School.

In that moment, I understood deeply:

Faith truly makes the impossible possible.

Continuing The Struggle For Kosen-rufu

Even after receiving the admission, my focus did not shift away from kosen-rufu.

I continued home visiting student division members in distant places like Meerut and Dehradun.

We appointed 11 YMD leaders in the recent appointment cycle.

Before leaving for Harvard, I determined that every district in my area should have at least one active student division member.

Reflection

Looking back now, I realize that my greatest victory was not admission to Harvard.

It was overcoming the belief that I was incapable.

Every limitation:

Fear of mathematics

Academic insecurity

Depression

Financial struggles

became fuel for my human revolution.

Sensei’s guidance taught me that true education is ultimately about becoming someone who contributes to humanity.

Key Takeaways

Faith enables us to challenge goals that appear impossible.

Human revolution begins by confronting inner limitations.

Consistent efforts for others create unexpected breakthroughs.

Mentor-disciple spirit gives courage during uncertainty.

Difficult subjects and challenges can become opportunities for growth.

Moving Forward

Toward 2030, I determine to chant 10 million daimoku and conduct 1000 shakubuku.

I also vow to contribute toward preserving the planet’s ecological future and creating a peaceful, sustainable world.

Most importantly, wherever I go, I want to expand kosen-rufu and become a true global citizen who lights the way toward a century of life.