Turning Winter Into Spring Through Faith And Human Revolution
When I joined this practice in 2010 at the age of 19, my life felt heavy with responsibility.
I was preparing for my CA exams while my parents battled serious health challenges.
My father suffered from Trigeminal Neuralgia, a rare and intensely painful condition.
My mother, the sole earning member of our family, was a chronic heart patient.
Financially, we struggled even to meet basic needs.
As an only child, I often felt deeply isolated.
But after joining the Soka Gakkai, something within me began to change.
My leaders constantly encouraged me to study the Gosho and the NHR.
Through Sensei’s guidance, I felt seen, understood, and embraced with immense compassion.
One line especially pierced my heart — the encouragement to become “the protagonist of one’s own drama.”
From that moment, I determined to stop being defeated by circumstances and take charge of my life.
Rising Again And Again
I began chanting earnestly for my parents’ health and immersed myself in Gakkai activities.
Yet my external reality did not change immediately.
I failed my CA exams not once, but three times.
Each failure tested my confidence.
Still, I refused to give up.
My routine became intense:
Waking up at 4:30 a.m.
Studying late into the night till 11:30 p.m.
Using commute time to encourage members
Reading borrowed copies of Value Creation because I could not afford my own subscription
Studying the Gosho passionately
In 2012, I had the great fortune of singing “Morigasaki” at the General Meeting.
That experience strengthened my bond with Sensei profoundly.
Around that time, I came across a poem in the NHR:
“Ablaze with hope,
I face the raging waves,
and though I may be destitute…
Watch me now
As I patiently endure.”
(‘Triumph’, NHR-4, 77)
These words became my prime point with Sensei.
Even today, they continue to guide me through every hardship.
Breaking Through Inner Darkness
Gradually, visible victories started appearing.
My mother received promotions, improving our financial situation.
And finally, after repeated struggles, I cleared my CA exams.
I even received job offers that once seemed completely impossible.
But a new and invisible battle began.
I started experiencing:
Depression
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Workplace challenges intensified my suffering further.
There were days when I felt completely overwhelmed internally despite appearing successful externally.
During those dark moments, Sensei’s lectures on the Gosho became my lifeline.
Reading them felt like having a daily dialogue with my mentor.
Feeling protected by Sensei, I finally opened up to my mother and sought professional help.
At the same time, I made a powerful determination:
I will win for my district and never allow my suffering to defeat me.
Transforming My District And My Life
In 2015, inspired by the Gosho “The Three Kinds of Treasure,” I threw myself wholeheartedly into the May 3rd Campaign.
I determined to transform my district while transforming my own life.
I supported members tirelessly, encouraged youth, and challenged my own human revolution deeply.
As I focused on others’ happiness, remarkable changes unfolded in my life:
I received career awards
I worked overseas
I introduced my manager to the practice
I bought my own home at the age of 24
Most importantly, I overcame depression and eventually went off medication.
I emerged from that period stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.
Facing Health Challenges Fearlessly
Just when life seemed to stabilize, another challenge appeared.
In 2016, I was diagnosed with a Pilar tumor and needed urgent surgery.
During that period, my Gakkai family’s daimoku became an enormous source of support.
Shortly afterward, my entire family also embraced the practice.
I later visited Daiseido and made a solemn determination:
I will contribute toward building a fair financial system and raise capable successors.
But life continued testing me.
During the 2018 “Brilliant Self and Brilliant District” Campaign, I struggled with relentless lung issues.
Still, I focused completely on encouraging members and ensuring nobody was left behind.
As I fought for others’ victories, my own life also transformed:
My health recovered
I returned to sports
I received an out-of-turn promotion
My father’s pain reduced significantly
My mother retired from the Ministry of Finance in stable health
Our district also flourished and expanded into a thriving region.
Turning Winter Into Spring
The year 2024 brought wave after wave of challenges.
There were:
Financial setbacks
My parents’ health struggles
Personal loss
My own major leg surgery
A long-awaited trip collapsed suddenly, creating emotional and financial strain.
Yet that very cancellation ensured I was physically present when my mother urgently needed heart surgery.
At the same time:
My cousin suffered a miscarriage
My best friend lost her partner
My grandmother passed away in my arms while I chanted daimoku
That moment shook me deeply.
But instead of collapsing into grief, I transformed my sorrow into determination to advance kosen-rufu so she could attain Buddhahood peacefully.
Even during physical recovery after surgery, I continued encouraging YWD members through:
Daily calls
Early morning home visits
Continuous daimoku
Those efforts revitalized my own life condition.
My mother also reconnected strongly with Gakkai activities, passed the BSG Introductory Exam, and later rejoined the government as a consultant.
The Treasure Of The Heart
Recently, I received an offer for a Deputy Vice President role at a UK bank with a 60% salary increase.
Earlier in life, I would have immediately accepted such an opportunity.
But after chanting deeply, I chose to respectfully decline the role because it required extremely long work hours and I wanted to prioritize my health.
For me, that decision represented true growth.
I realized that the greatest victory is not external success alone, but developing the wisdom to value one’s life.
The entire year reaffirmed my deep conviction in the Daishonin’s words:
“Winter always turns to spring.”
(‘Winter Always Turns to Spring’, WND-1, 536)
Today, more than ever, I know with certainty that the mentor-disciple bond can transform any reality.
Moving forward, I determine to deepen my connection with Sensei by conducting 100 dialogues toward March 16th and raising capable successors who will continue advancing kosen-rufu with courage and joy.