The Greatest of All Joys
On August 18, 1996, Sabyasachi Ghosh began practicing Nichiren Buddhism.
Just over a year later, during Ikeda Sensei’s visit to New Delhi in October 1997, he attended Sensei’s lecture and made a powerful vow in his heart:
To become that one men’s division member who would fight for worldwide kosen-rufu alongside his mentor until his final breath.
At the time, he had no idea how deeply life would test that determination.
When Life Changed Within Hours
In December 2001, only hours after his daughter was born in Mumbai, tragedy struck unexpectedly.
She began suffering repeated epileptic seizures.
For the next five years, doctors treated her with anti-epileptic medications to prevent recurrence.
But those medicines carried severe side effects.
Over time, they altered her brain development, eventually leading to autism and developmental disabilities.
For many parents, such a diagnosis would have become a source of lifelong despair.
But for Sabyasachi and his family, the Soka Gakkai became an oasis of hope.
The encouragement of members, the Gosho, and Sensei’s guidance continuously strengthened him emotionally.
Gradually, he made a profound inner decision:
Rather than seeing his daughter’s condition as misfortune, he would regard it as his mission for kosen-rufu.
He determined to raise her into an extraordinary individual so that other parents facing similar situations could also gain hope and courage.
His suffering slowly transformed into a vow.
Turning Mission Into Action
One Gosho passage especially became the foundation of his determination:
“Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is like the roar of a lion. What sickness can therefore be an obstacle?”
Keeping these words close to his heart, Sabyasachi immersed himself even more deeply in Buddhist activities after moving to Delhi.
Without begrudging his life, he:
Visited members’ homes for daimoku
Distributed invitation cards for meetings
Opened his home for guidance sessions
Attended MD Pillar meetings
Participated actively in BTS activities and campaigns
Externally, however, challenges continued.
When his daughter struggled academically in Delhi because she learned slowly, one psychologist bluntly advised them not to think about schooling at all.
Instead, they were told to place her permanently in a special care center.
For any parent, hearing such words could have crushed hope entirely.
But Sabyasachi refused to define his daughter’s future through fear.
He chose faith over limitation.
The Mystic Law Opens New Paths
In 2003, another child psychologist suggested that only two cities in India had the educational and developmental support systems needed for his daughter:
Mysuru
Pune
Interestingly, around the same time, Sabyasachi’s professional life also began shifting mysteriously.
Although his legal work in Delhi had previously focused only on Indian law, he unexpectedly started receiving outsourced work from international lawyers.
By 2006, outsourced US legal work became his primary income source.
Then in 2007, he received an opportunity to work for a US-based law firm’s back office in Mysuru.
The family relocated immediately.
There, his daughter joined an integrated school and began adjusting positively.
At the same time, Sabyasachi actively supported new and inactive members in Mysuru strengthen their faith and practice.
Yet another challenge soon appeared.
Because of language difficulties in Mysuru, his daughter gradually developed a stammer.
Once again, experts advised a major life shift.
This time, they recommended Pune.
Sabyasachi chanted earnestly to the Gohonzon for wisdom and clarity while deeply basing himself on Nichiren Daishonin’s guidance to:
“Employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra before any other.”
He intensified his Buddhist activities and simultaneously began applying for opportunities around Pune.
Soon afterward, a Pune-based legal outsourcing company hired him.
Step by step, each new path seemed to open exactly when needed most.
Believing in Limitless Potential
Life in Pune became another major turning point.
His daughter joined a new integrated school.
The academic workload was extremely demanding for her.
But she persisted patiently.
Sabyasachi continued chanting not only for her protection, but for the full flowering of her potential.
In 2017, both his daughter and wife also began chanting daimoku sincerely.
Around the same time, he enrolled his daughter in Hindustani classical music classes.
To everyone’s surprise, she naturally developed remarkable interest and ability in music.
Meanwhile, Sabyasachi continued fighting tirelessly for kosen-rufu in Pune.
He repeatedly challenged campaign after campaign alongside fellow members as the organization expanded from one zone into five.
Alongside these efforts, he also started his own legal process outsourcing company.
As he expanded his life through contribution, breakthroughs continued appearing both personally and professionally.
The “Greatest of All Joys”
In 2019, his daughter appeared for her 10th Board examinations through NIOS.
She cleared all five subjects in her very first attempt.
Her aggregate score was 73 percent.
Even more remarkably, she scored 92 percent in Economics — the highest score in her school.
Simultaneously, she began excelling in classical music and performed publicly multiple times.
Watching this transformation filled Sabyasachi with overwhelming gratitude toward the Gohonzon and Sensei.
The same child whom experts once advised should not pursue formal education was now thriving academically and artistically.
Inspired by her remarkable growth, Sabyasachi’s brother and family also began practicing Buddhism in 2020.
Then came another major milestone.
In 2021, his daughter appeared for her 12th Board examinations through NIOS.
Once again, she passed all subjects successfully — this time with an impressive 84 percent aggregate.
During the pandemic years, she also completed:
Five certified online courses
A beta testing project for a Singapore-based company
Meanwhile, Sabyasachi’s company experienced record business growth during the pandemic.
While many businesses were laying off employees, his company continued hiring.
Then in August 2022 came yet another unforgettable victory.
His daughter secured admission to the University of Pune for a Bachelor’s degree.
What once appeared impossible had slowly become reality through years of unwavering faith and action.
A Father’s Greatest Joy
One passage from Ikeda Sensei deeply resonated with Sabyasachi throughout this journey:
“When you are filled with joy, you will ignite the same joy in all those who see you.”
For him, this became the real meaning of “the greatest of all joys.”
Not merely personal happiness.
But becoming a source of hope and encouragement for countless others.
Today, he feels immense gratitude not only for his daughter’s growth, but also for the way Buddhism transformed him into a stronger, more optimistic human being.
A Line That Stayed With Me
“Rise to the challenges that life presents you.”
Reflection
Sometimes life gives people circumstances they never imagined they could handle.
At such moments, many people unconsciously begin limiting themselves and their loved ones through fear.
But Buddhism teaches that every human being possesses limitless potential.
Sabyasachi’s journey shows the extraordinary power of refusing to define life through labels, diagnoses, or limitations.
When parents continue believing deeply in possibility, children often begin believing in themselves too.
And sometimes, the very challenge that once caused tears becomes the source of the greatest joy.
Key Takeaways
Challenges can become profound missions in life.
Consistent daimoku strengthens wisdom and courage.
Children flourish when surrounded by belief and encouragement.
Human revolution transforms both family and environment.
Joy deepens when we use our struggles to encourage others.
Forward With Determination
Today, Sabyasachi remains deeply determined to:
Continue encouraging members through his experience
Support the happiness of members in Pune
Raise his daughter as a strong and capable young women’s division member
Advance alongside Sensei toward 2030 with unwavering spirit
Above all, he remains committed to helping many more people bring out the very best within themselves.
Inspired by a published Buddhist experience and retold with commentary, reflection, and adapted storytelling.