Turning My Darkest Winter Into Victory

I encountered Nichiren Buddhism during the final year of my MBBS.

At that time, academic pressure often felt overwhelming.

But through faith and practice, I was able to navigate that stressful period successfully.

More importantly, I experienced a deep inner transformation.

I changed from being:

An introvert

A shy observer

Someone hesitant to express herself

into a far more confident, courageous, and outgoing person.

In 2005, I got married and later became the mother of two daughters, Janvi and Aabha, both of whom chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

As a frontline women’s division leader, I focused deeply on:

Making discussion meetings joyful

Studying Buddhist concepts sincerely with members

Supporting fellow members through encouragement and prayer

Professionally, I worked in a government institute on a contractual basis, with yearly renewals.

Then came a phase that tested every aspect of my life simultaneously.

When Challenges Arrived All At Once

In April 2022, my six-year-old daughter was diagnosed with scoliosis — a rare spinal condition for a child her age.

Her spine had started curving abnormally.

Initially, we managed the condition through:

Physiotherapy

Body braces

Even during this emotionally difficult period, I tried not to lose hope.

I focused intensely on supporting members in my chapter and helping them report victories.

Encouraging others became my own source of strength.

But another major challenge soon surfaced.

In February 2024, the renewal files for my government contract were suddenly not cleared.

From that point onward, my salary stopped completely.

Despite receiving no salary, I continued working sincerely without begrudging.

At the same time, the district I was attached to was struggling badly.

There was:

Low discussion meeting attendance

Weak VC subscriptions

Very few experiences being shared

Instead of feeling defeated, the district leaders and I made one determination:

To transform the district completely and report victory to Sensei.

I decided that if my external circumstances were becoming more difficult, then my faith needed to become even stronger.

Turning The District Into My Battleground

Together with fellow district leaders, I immersed myself in:

Home visits

Dialogue

Studying the Gosho

Sharing Sensei’s guidance

Little by little, the atmosphere began changing.

Members started participating more actively.

Victories started emerging naturally.

Soon:

Five members joyfully enshrined Gohonzon

VC subscriptions increased from five to fifteen

Twenty-one members attended the May discussion meeting

Four members shared experiences joyfully

During this same period, I was appointed deputy WD region chief.

I determined to fully respond to this new responsibility.

Toward the July 3rd WD Campaign, all the WD region chiefs united strongly.

Together, we:

Chanted one million daimoku

Studied Kaneko’s Story with members

Conducted extensive home visits

The WD “Smiling Suns of Soka” gatherings became incredibly vibrant.

One hundred women attended and twelve women shared inspiring victories.

The more I fought for kosen-rufu, the more courage began emerging within me.

When Everything Collapsed Together

Meanwhile, my own life situation kept becoming more severe.

In June, I appeared for a UPSC interview for a regular government medical faculty position.

I failed to clear it.

Still, I continued working wholeheartedly in my hospital.

Despite severe resource limitations, I took on additional responsibilities beyond my microbiology department.

I viewed my work as:

A sincere offering to the Gohonzon

A contribution toward patients’ welfare

I also increased my causes in faith:

Conducting study meetings for BSG Entrance Exam candidates

Studying Buddhism with members over phone calls

Volunteering for exam duties

Then came another crushing blow.

In October, a UPSC-selected candidate was posted in my position.

I became jobless overnight.

I still had five months of unpaid salary dues pending.

Financially and professionally, I felt I had hit rock bottom.

But the hardest moment was yet to come.

During this same period, my daughter’s spinal curve suddenly worsened dramatically — increasing from 50 degrees to 82 degrees.

The doctors advised immediate surgery.

Worse still:

The surgery was extremely expensive

Repeated surgeries would likely be required every six months

The insurance company raised multiple complications and queries

Everything felt uncertain.

And yet, somewhere deep within, I knew I could not give up.

Determined To Report Explosive Victory

One guidance from Sensei deeply strengthened me during this phase:

“The true value of Buddhism can only be demonstrated if we are actually able to transform our lives and manifest … the same supremely noble life state as the Buddha.”

(VC, July 2015)

I sought fresh guidance in faith and made a powerful determination:

To report explosive victory to Sensei toward November 18th.

I set very concrete prayers.

I based all my activities on Sensei’s guidance.

I continued:

Supporting discussion meetings

Teaching gongyo to a new member

Making financial contributions for kosen-rufu

Chanting earnestly every day

Then, gradually, breakthrough after breakthrough started appearing.

Victories Beyond What We Imagined

Mystically, for my daughter’s condition, we were offered an alternative treatment option:

Magnetic growth rods instead of conventional surgery.

This meant she would not require repeated open surgeries every six months.

The surgery became a tremendous success.

Her spinal curve reduced from 82 degrees to less than 30 degrees.

Her height even increased by seven centimeters.

Another miracle unfolded simultaneously.

Because I was unexpectedly jobless during that period, I could personally take complete care of my daughter after surgery.

It truly felt as though the Gohonzon had perfectly arranged the timing for her recovery.

Then came yet another immense protection:

The insurance company covered the entire surgery expense of ₹17 lakhs.

And finally, in December:

I received all five months of pending salary dues

I appeared for another UPSC interview

I successfully cleared it

I secured a permanent central government job

The same period that once looked like complete collapse transformed into one of the greatest victories of my life.

A Line That Stayed With Me

“Nichiren Buddhism is a teaching that enables us to change ourselves and our circumstances.”

Reflection

Life rarely gives challenges one at a time.

Sometimes:

Family problems

Career uncertainty

Financial struggles

Health crises

all arrive together.

In those moments, it becomes easy to feel overwhelmed.

But Buddhism teaches that our greatest strength often emerges precisely during our darkest winters.

My journey taught me that sincere efforts for others create unimaginable inner power.

And often, when we continue moving forward despite fear, life begins opening doors we could never have predicted.

Key Takeaways

Challenges can become opportunities for profound human revolution.

Supporting others strengthens one’s own life deeply.

Faith helps develop courage during uncertainty.

Consistent prayer and action create breakthrough moments.

Even the harshest winter eventually transforms into spring.

Forward With Determination

Today, I remain deeply determined to:

Strengthen my basics of faith

Hold 25 dialogues this year

Home visit at least five members every week

Encourage members joyfully

Advance kosen-rufu with gratitude and conviction

Above all, I determine to continue transforming every challenge into value and victory through the power of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

Inspired by a published Buddhist experience and retold with commentary, reflection, and adapted storytelling.