Turning Every Struggle Into A Cause For Victory
I am a music teacher by profession.
In 2017, my sister introduced me to Nichiren Buddhism during one of the most difficult periods of my life.
At that time, the school where I was teaching had suspended me and two of my colleagues based on false allegations.
The humiliation and uncertainty shook me deeply.
Left with no option, we filed a case in the High Court.
Internally, I felt anxious, angry, and helpless.
Then I attended my very first Gakkai meeting.
That evening changed something inside me forever.
I was deeply moved by the life condition of a Women’s Division member whose husband attended the meeting in a wheelchair.
Despite their circumstances, both radiated warmth, dignity, and hope.
The compassion shown by leaders and members touched my heart profoundly.
Slowly, I began building bonds of trust with them.
Within five months of starting my practice, I completed one million daimoku.
For the first time in years, I felt that perhaps my suffering also had meaning.
Transforming My Inner State First
That same year, I took responsibility for a block.
As I immersed myself in:
Chanting daimoku
Attending meetings
Studying the Gosho and The New Human Revolution
Praying for others
I noticed gradual but powerful changes within myself.
I became:
Calmer
More patient
Emotionally stronger
Hopeful about the future
Even my family noticed the transformation.
Seeing these positive changes, they began supporting my practice wholeheartedly.
In 2018, I joined the Sunshine WD Chorus Group.
Through guidance from seniors in faith, I learned to stop viewing my struggles as punishment.
Instead, I started seeing them as opportunities to fulfill my mission as a Bodhisattva of the Earth.
Rather than dwelling endlessly on my problems, I focused on creating causes in faith.
Little did I know that much greater challenges still lay ahead.
When Family Relationships Began Crumbling
In September 2019, my widowed sister-in-law was diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer.
I immediately determined to bring her from Darbhanga in Bihar to Delhi for treatment.
But my in-laws strongly opposed the decision.
This situation hurt me deeply because I had always shared a close relationship with my mother-in-law.
Now suddenly, we found ourselves emotionally divided.
I felt disturbed and heartbroken.
Still, I decided not to give in to bitterness.
I focused on taking care of my sister-in-law wholeheartedly.
I handled:
Her treatment
Her hospital visits
All major medical expenses
Financially, it became extremely difficult.
Yet even amidst the burden, I continued making financial contributions for kosen-rufu.
Gradually, various forms of protection began appearing:
We found the right doctors
The right treatment emerged
The right medical support became available
Witnessing these benefits, my sister-in-law herself began practicing Buddhism.
But the challenges did not stop there.
During this same period:
My son was hospitalized with typhoid
My daughter developed persistent fever
I often found myself running between hospitals, home responsibilities, and Gakkai activities.
There were moments when exhaustion overwhelmed me.
Yet I refused to be defeated internally.
Whenever I found even a few spare moments, I chanted daimoku and encouraged members.
I specifically prayed to elevate the life condition of all humankind.
Strangely, the more I prayed for others, the stronger I myself became.
Turning Pain Into Compassion
As visible rewards of those efforts:
We successfully sold a family property
My husband received arrears from a long-pending legal matter
My sister-in-law eventually prolonged her life by nine months before passing away peacefully.
Her passing left all of us devastated.
Seeing her children suddenly orphaned, my husband and I offered to adopt them.
But this decision worsened relations with my in-laws drastically.
Eventually, they completely cut ties with me.
The emotional pain was enormous.
At that time, one guidance from Sensei became my anchor:
“Faith is the source of limitless hope and vitality. With a strong inner resolve and positive outlook, we can transform any environment into the most magnificent ‘treasure land’.”
(‘Treasure Land’, NHR-6, 34)
I prayed earnestly to have a heart-to-heart dialogue with my mother-in-law.
But when I reached out, her response remained cold.
Still, I refused to give up.
I strengthened my determination to win through human revolution.
Finding Joy In Encouraging Others
In 2022, I was appointed district chief of a newly formed district with only four or five active members.
Rather than feeling discouraged, I saw it as my mission.
I began sincerely praying for each member’s happiness.
I:
Home visited members
Built bonds of trust
Learned to cherish each individual deeply
Gradually, discussion meetings and activities became a source of immense joy for me.
At the same time, another beautiful transformation happened.
I reconnected with extended family members I had not spoken to for fifteen years.
Eventually, I introduced four cousins to the practice.
Dialogue slowly became my way of life.
Victory After Years Of Struggle
Over the years:
I held more than 200 dialogues
Introduced 20 people to the practice
Chanted more than 12 million daimoku
Then beautiful breakthroughs finally started appearing.
Last year, after four long years, my in-laws visited us.
We resolved our misunderstandings and rebuilt our relationship beautifully.
In April 2024, with their full consent, I officially adopted my late sister-in-law’s younger son.
In May, he attended his very first Gakkai meeting.
At the same time, my own son graduated from a prestigious university and secured a job in the multinational company of his choice.
Then came another major breakthrough.
In May 2024, I finally won the long legal battle against the school.
The court:
Quashed my suspension
Restored my integrity
Ordered the school to compensate me with seven years of arrears
But even then, the school refused to comply and filed an appeal.
Surprisingly, however, I remained calm and resolute.
I realized that my years of Gakkai training had fundamentally transformed my life state.
Choosing To Smile Through The Storm
When the WD July 3rd Campaign was announced, I decided to use “smile” not as an effect of victory — but as a cause for victory.
Every day, I:
Began with powerful daimoku
Read Kaneko’s Story
Encouraged fellow Women’s Division members
At work too, I applied the spirit I learned through Sunshine Chorus Group training.
As a result, I saw remarkable improvement in student participation during my music classes.
Then finally came the latest breakthrough.
The High Court completely dismissed the school’s appeal and directed them to deposit all arrears within four weeks.
At that moment, I felt that every tear, every prayer, and every effort had truly transformed poison into medicine.
A Line That Stayed With Me
“With a strong inner resolve and positive outlook, we can transform any environment into the most magnificent ‘treasure land’.”
Reflection
Life often becomes most painful when relationships break down and injustice feels endless.
During such times, it is easy to become bitter or emotionally exhausted.
But Buddhism teaches that true victory begins internally.
My journey taught me that:
Prayer changes perspective first
Encouraging others strengthens our own life
Dialogue heals divisions slowly
Compassion transforms karma deeply
Most importantly, I learned that human revolution is not about avoiding suffering.
It is about becoming someone who can transform suffering into value, courage, and hope.
Key Takeaways
Challenges can become opportunities for profound human revolution.
Consistent faith transforms despair into hope gradually.
Dialogue and compassion heal even damaged relationships.
Supporting others strengthens one’s own life force.
The “never be defeated” spirit creates lasting victory.
Forward With Determination
Today, I determine to:
Continue making dialogue my way of life
Foster capable youth and Future Division members toward 2030
Raise my children and nephew as successors of Ikeda Sensei
Continue shining brightly regardless of circumstances
Above all, I want to continue proving through my life that every struggle can become a cause for tremendous victory and happiness.
Inspired by a published Buddhist experience and retold with commentary, reflection, and adapted storytelling.