Remaining Steadfast Through Life’s Fierest Storms
Rajiv Malhotra was only twenty-one when he got married.
Soon afterward, he and his wife were blessed with a daughter.
But the joy of becoming parents quickly turned into worry when they discovered that their daughter suffered from epilepsy and mental disability.
Two years later, their second daughter was born healthy.
At that time, Rajiv carried enormous responsibilities.
He was the sole earning member for a large family that included:
Aged parents
Four unmarried sisters
A younger brother
A seriously ill child
Financial pressure mounted relentlessly.
Debts increased.
Exhaustion and helplessness slowly consumed him.
To cope with stress, Rajiv became a chain smoker and eventually slipped into depression.
Life had become a continuous struggle for survival.
A New Beginning Through Faith
In 2004, during this difficult phase, Rajiv encountered Nichiren Buddhism in Gurugram.
With the support of his shakubuku parent and senior leaders, he learned gongyo and gradually began participating in Gakkai activities.
Reading The New Human Revolution and Ikeda Sensei’s Gosho lectures in Value Creation helped deepen his faith and stabilize his practice.
Slowly, his perspective on life began changing.
Instead of hiding from society due to his daughter’s condition, Rajiv and his wife found the courage to participate openly in family functions and social gatherings.
They also found the right doctor for their daughter.
Within a year, Rajiv enshrined the Gohonzon.
Then another major challenge arrived.
Their third child — a son — was born with similar health complications as their eldest daughter.
Raising two special children became an hour-to-hour struggle.
Every day demanded emotional, physical, and financial strength far beyond what they thought they possessed.
Choosing Not to Be Defeated
At that point, Rajiv made a profound determination.
As a “pillar of Soka,” he resolved not to become a victim of his circumstances.
Instead, he took full responsibility for transforming his family’s karma through faith.
Together, he and his wife worked tirelessly to create a harmonious and joyful environment at home despite their struggles.
They challenged themselves to give their best:
At work
In faith
In family life
Their son, despite his physical limitations, became the second person in the family to begin chanting.
At the same time, Rajiv also challenged himself professionally.
Using his newfound confidence and wisdom, he upgraded his qualifications from one of India’s leading business schools.
This breakthrough helped accelerate his career growth and gradually improved the family’s financial stability.
One by one, his sisters also got married into good families.
Faith slowly transformed what once felt like an impossible burden into a path of steady victory.
The Greatest Test of Faith
In 2011, Rajiv relocated to Mumbai and continued practicing with even greater determination.
He actively supported members and helped create fresh momentum in the unit where he was attached.
Many capable members and leaders emerged through these efforts.
Then came the greatest test of his life.
In 2012, his eldest daughter passed away peacefully in her sleep.
Nine months later, his eight-year-old son also passed away in a similar manner.
The pain was unimaginable.
For most parents, such grief would completely shatter life itself.
Searching deeply for meaning, Rajiv repeatedly studied Nichiren Daishonin’s writing “Letter from Sado.”
At the same time, this guidance from Ikeda Sensei deeply encouraged him:
“As long as we remain steadfast in faith at such critical moments, we will absolutely attain Buddhahood.”
(Value Creation, December 2012, p. 161)
Gradually, Rajiv arrived at a profound realization.
He felt that he had consciously chosen this difficult karma in this lifetime as part of his mission as a Bodhisattva of the Earth.
Rather than collapsing in despair, he resolved to summon what Buddhism calls “the heart of a lion king.”
In the midst of unbearable grief, Rajiv chose faith over defeat.
Renewing His Great Vow
Instead of withdrawing from life, Rajiv immersed himself even more deeply in advancing kosen-rufu alongside fellow leaders.
Working with the spirit of itai doshin — many in body, one in mind — tremendous growth occurred within the organization.
Eventually, one zone expanded enough to become three separate zones.
In 2017, Rajiv attended an HQLM training course in Japan.
While chanting at Daiseido, he renewed his vow for kosen-rufu with even greater clarity.
At home too, new victories emerged.
His wife and younger daughter became active leaders in the organization.
His daughter later graduated from one of India’s top law schools and built a successful career in the corporate world.
Rajiv also overcame his long-standing smoking addiction and quit smoking permanently nearly ten years ago.
Even after immense suffering, life continued opening new pathways of growth and contribution.
Turning Suffering Into Encouragement
During the pandemic years, Rajiv fought strongly in all BSG campaigns despite facing COVID twice and undergoing surgery himself.
He consistently encouraged men’s division members through home visits, dialogue, and sharing his experiences.
As a result, many members began reporting important victories in their own lives.
In the Year of Youth and Triumph, Rajiv traveled frequently to encourage members in outstation cities.
Many attended their first physical discussion meeting through these efforts.
At the same time, his professional life also expanded remarkably.
Because of the leadership and organizational skills he had developed through years of Gakkai training, Rajiv advanced into major leadership positions at work.
He received multiple prestigious recognitions, including:
Impactful CXO Award by The Economic Times
CIO Powerlist 2023 recognition
These awards recognized visionary leadership and innovation in technology and business transformation.
The same person who once struggled with depression and hopelessness had now become a leader encouraging countless others.
A Line That Stayed With Me
“As long as we remain steadfast in faith at such critical moments, we will absolutely attain Buddhahood.”
Reflection
Some sufferings in life appear impossible to overcome.
The loss of a child can feel like the collapse of one’s entire world.
Yet Buddhism teaches that even the deepest pain can become the source of profound human revolution.
Rajiv’s journey reminds us that faith does not erase grief.
Rather, it gives human beings the strength to continue living with courage, meaning, and compassion despite grief.
Sometimes, the greatest proof of inner strength is not avoiding sorrow — but refusing to let sorrow destroy our purpose.
Key Takeaways
Faith can transform even profound suffering into strength and mission.
Human revolution begins when we refuse to see ourselves as victims.
Encouraging others helps heal our own pain.
Steadfast faith during critical moments creates deep inner transformation.
Challenges can become the foundation for creating value in society.
Forward With Determination
Today, Rajiv remains deeply determined to:
Raise capable youth and leaders
Fight on the frontlines for kosen-rufu
Encourage members through his own example
Preserve and pass on the spirit of mentor and disciple
Above all, he remains committed to repaying his debt of gratitude through lifelong contribution and unwavering faith.
Inspired by a published Buddhist experience and retold with commentary, reflection, and adapted storytelling.