Mastering the Spirit of Never Be Defeated

I started practicing in 2017. Two years later, I dropped out of the PhD program from JNU and battled depression and suicidal tendencies. Faced with such upheavals, I made the Gohonzon the center of my life. But when I failed to clear the UPSC-Civil Services (Prelims) for the third time in 2021, I stopped chanting.

However, a senior in faith continued to encourage me. After attending the General Meeting in 2021, I truly understood my mission as a student division member, renewed my determination to strive as a Bodhisattva of the Earth, and began to chant again.

Striving to Fulfill My Mission

Basing myself on faith, I once again took the Civil Services Exam, my fourth attempt, but failed yet again. Rather than doubting the power of the Gohonzon this time, my sense of responsibility toward my mission intensified and I decided to give the fifth attempt. My attitude in faith underwent a fundamental shift from benefit-oriented practice to mission-oriented practice.

I became the protagonist of my life. I chanted daimoku at every spare moment, studied the Gosho, and did two to three home visits every week. I set targets to increase the attendance in meetings and achieved them, raised five YWD leaders and helped many inactive members revive their practice.

As benefits and protection earned due to my efforts in faith, my parents survived a massive car crash. I transformed my relationship with my sister and introduced my entire family to this philosophy.

Appointed as the zone SD incharge in 2022, I resolved to triumph for the sake of my SD members. Through early morning daimoku sessions and study calls, I helped SD incharges strengthen their bond with the mentor. During the March 16th and May 3rd Campaigns last year, I conducted more than 25 dialogues in a short span of two months and introduced 10 students to the practice.

Meanwhile, having failed 15 different exams in the last six years, I continuously strengthened my resolve keeping Sensei’s guidance that “the determination to win is the better part of winning” (VC, Jan 2010, 112) in my heart.

With absolute conviction in my potential, I sat for the Civil Services (Prelims) and cleared it. For the Mains in September 2023, I aligned my life with the BSG Entrance Exam, chanted vibrant daimoku, and conducted one faith-based activity daily. One by one, the SDs began sharing their experiences of clearing college exams, getting desired placements, overcoming their fears and lack of confidence, and feeling the joy of practice. Despite health challenges, I studied for more than 12–13 hours daily and also fulfilled my Gakkai responsibilities.

When Ikeda Sensei passed away, I deepened my commitment to actualize his vision for advancing kosen-rufu with a sense of urgency and responsibility. I found hope in his words: “[I]n life there are both sunny days and cloudy ones. But even on cloudy days, the sun still shines…. Even when we are struggling, we mustn’t let the light go out in our hearts” (WCHP-1, 232).

Imbibing this guidance, I pressed on resolutely and cleared the Mains.

Mastering the Spirit of ‘Never-Be-Defeated’

Making a fresh departure in 2024, I attended the Mentor Memorial Hall Training Course and resolved to become the foremost disciple of Sensei. Toward the March 16th Youth Division Meeting, I encouraged many youths. Mystically, my interview process was completed on March 16th!

During my interview, I conducted a dialogue with the Chairman about the philosophy of the Lotus Sutra and Ikeda Sensei. I conducted three more dialogues with fellow candidates and later, introduced one of them to practice.

Finally, after seven long years of struggle, I reported my most awaited victory of clearing the UPSC Exam with an All India Rank of 548.

However, challenges awaited me. On April 25th, citing some discrepancy in my documents, my candidature was put as provisional; I faced the possibility of cancellation of my result. Having forged an invincible self by anchoring myself in the Mystic Law and solidifying the mentor-disciple bond, I chose hope over despair.

I chanted lion’s roar daimoku, actively conducted home visits, and could hold four dialogues over the next four days. My prayer was concrete: “This May 3rd, I Will Definitely Win!”

I received absolute protection as everyone involved in reissuing my documents acted as Buddhas and I could submit the requisite documents on May 3rd itself! My candidature was finalized, and I got entry into the coveted Indian Police Services (IPS)!

Strengthening my eternal vow, I am determined to advance with a sense of purpose and shakubuku 100 lives and raise 100 core youth division members toward the centennial of the Soka Gakkai and illuminate people’s lives with the light of hope and happiness by becoming the most compassionate civil servant.