Making My Mentor's Vow My Own Mission

I encountered Nichiren Buddhism as a future division member while I was still very young. Soon after beginning my practice, my family faced its first major challenge when my eldest sister returned home with her young daughter because of serious problems in her marriage.

Although I was still a child, I challenged myself to pray sincerely for my sister's happiness and the unity of our family. Eighteen months later, she returned to her marital home with renewed happiness. Witnessing this transformation strengthened my conviction that sincere prayer truly changes destiny.

As I entered college, another challenge appeared.

I became the target of relentless bullying. The experience shattered my confidence and made me afraid of attending classes. There were moments when I questioned whether I should continue my education at all. During this difficult period, the encouragement of my seniors and fellow members, together with consistent daimoku and study, gave me the courage to stand up again.

Instead of allowing fear to define me, I determined to move forward one step at a time.

Soon afterward, another obstacle emerged when my university mistakenly declared that I had failed one of my examinations. Rather than giving in to frustration, I continued chanting with conviction while pursuing the matter through the proper channels. Eventually, the university acknowledged its error and officially corrected my result.

Every victory deepened my faith.

Alongside my personal struggles, I devoted myself wholeheartedly to encouraging fellow youth members. By the time I completed college, the number of active youth members in my district had nearly doubled. Watching these positive changes also inspired my mother to become active in Buddhist practice.

Later, I pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Glasgow, a university that had also honored Ikeda Sensei. Living abroad strengthened my determination even further.

I traveled long distances to attend meetings, supported new members in learning gongyo, and participated enthusiastically in training courses. My understanding of worldwide kosen-rufu expanded tremendously, and I realized that faith was not merely about receiving benefits but about dedicating one's life to the happiness of others.

After returning to India, I secured a job that fulfilled everything I had hoped for professionally.

Around that time, I also developed a deep determination to visit the Hall of the Great Vow for Kosen-rufu. However, one obstacle after another appeared. My workload increased dramatically, my father fell seriously ill, and my visa application was unexpectedly rejected at the last moment.

Instead of becoming discouraged, I strengthened my prayer and continued striving for the happiness of the youth members I was supporting.

Eventually, on my birthday, my parents and I performed gongyo together at the Hall of the Great Vow. Standing there, I renewed my determination that my mentor's dream for worldwide peace would become my own lifelong responsibility.

That experience became a defining turning point in my life.

From then onward, every campaign, discussion meeting, home visit, and dialogue became an opportunity to respond to my mentor's expectations. I increased my daimoku, challenged myself to conduct countless home visits, held dialogues with people beyond my comfort zone, and introduced many others to this philosophy.

Even while my father underwent major surgery, I continued advancing steadily with the conviction that faith means moving forward regardless of circumstances.

The results soon became visible.

The district that I supported grew from having only a handful of active young women to becoming a vibrant, flourishing organization filled with capable leaders. District after district achieved remarkable breakthroughs, and our zone itself emerged as a Golden Zone.

At the same time, another long-standing family karma quietly began transforming.

For many years after my grandparents passed away, misunderstandings had deeply damaged relationships within our extended family. Rather than reacting emotionally, my parents and I consistently chose respect, compassion, and patience.

Gradually, relationships that had remained strained for more than a decade began healing. Relatives who had remained distant started visiting our home again, and mutual respect naturally returned.

My responsibilities later expanded further when I began supporting future division members.

Having grown up in the future division myself, I understood their worries and aspirations deeply. Together with fellow leaders, we focused on nurturing confident, compassionate young people who would become the next generation of capable leaders.

Within a few years, our area witnessed the emergence of dozens of dedicated future division leaders, while many children reported remarkable victories in their studies, confidence, and family relationships.

Then came one of our family's biggest material challenges.

For years, my parents had dreamed of owning a home that could also serve as a place to advance kosen-rufu. We eventually found the perfect property, but after paying half the amount, our home loan was unexpectedly rejected because of a missing government document.

At first, the situation appeared impossible.

Instead of panicking, my mother and I increased our daimoku significantly, praying not only for our own success but also for the happiness of everyone involved in the transaction. We determined that we would never compromise our integrity or take any dishonest shortcut.

Then, one by one, every obstacle dissolved.

An old property was unexpectedly sold, providing exactly the amount we needed. The house registration was completed smoothly. Only after everything had been finalized did the missing government document finally arrive at our doorstep.

Our greatest joy was not simply buying a house, but fulfilling our dream of creating a private kaikan where countless members could gather, encourage one another, and advance kosen-rufu together.

Looking back over the years, I can clearly see how every challenge became an opportunity for deeper faith, stronger determination, and greater responsibility.

My father overcame serious illness and became completely debt-free. Three generations of our family now practice together. Professionally, I have received multiple promotions and steady career growth, but these external benefits feel secondary compared to the inner conviction I have developed.

Today, my greatest determination is not simply to accumulate personal victories but to become a disciple who can foster capable successors and help countless others discover the limitless potential within their own lives. With the Gohonzon at the center of everything I do, I continue advancing toward 2030 with the resolve to transform every challenge into value and fulfill my mentor's vision for peace and happiness.