Lai Yin
Young Women Division
In February 2025, my father approached me for help. He needed money for his living expenses, as his company would be relocating to Johor Bahru that April. He also asked me to help him find a new job and a place to stay. I felt frustrated at this situation and confided in my mother. Her advice was simple yet profound: “Go and chant for the wisdom to face your father.”
As I sat crying in front of the Gohonzon, empathy began to fill my heart. I thought to myself, I cannot let him leave; if he does, it may be the last time I see him.
My Mother’s Vast Heart
Growing up, I resented my father. I witnessed how my mother struggled with multiple jobs to support us because of the debts he had incurred. When I was five, my mother was introduced to Nichiren Buddhism amid our family’s severe financial difficulties. She had to raise my sister and me largely on her own, as my father was often absent.
Despite her heavy responsibilities, she always made time for us while working tirelessly to provide for the family. Through chanting in her toughest times, our family experienced our first actual proof when what had seemed like an impossible debt burden was unexpectedly resolved with the help of the authorities and our relatives.
After years of living apart, my parents eventually divorced. My father also made unfair accusations against my mother, which only deepened the rift in our relationship. Yet, my mother’s faith remained unwavering. By participating actively in Gakkai activities and strengthening her faith, practice and study, she transformed her bitterness into compassion. She also did her human revolution, rarely complained, and mellowed from a fiery woman into a warm and patient one.
Her favourite Gosho passage encapsulates her attitude towards life:
“Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life, and continue chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, no matter what happens.” (WND-1, p. 681)
Her example inspired me deeply, but for many years my sister and I could not bring ourselves to follow her encouragement to reconcile with my father, unable to get over the hurt and pain of the past. Even when I met him or chanted for his happiness, I did so half-heartedly. It was only through sincere daimoku and active participation in Gakkai activities, especially in the Student Division (SD), that I gained the courage and compassion to break through my inner walls.
Believing in My Own Buddha Nature
I recall a turning point during SD’s “Together Grow” (the calligraphy that Ikeda Sensei presented to the Singapore Student Division in 1988 reads “Together, Grow.” It carries the meaning of growing together) training in 2019. I had a fallout with a university friend and, upon sharing this with a senior, was encouraged to chant about recurring interpersonal issues. As I reflected in front of the Gohonzon, I realised that each time I experienced a conflict, a part of me knew I was at fault — yet my pride prevented me from admitting it.
Through studying Ikeda Sensei’s guidance in The New Human Revolution and The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, I came to understand that true growth in one’s life begins with one’s own human revolution. I needed to confront myself honestly and take concrete action to improve my character.
This revelation deepened in February 2025, when SD members had the opportunity to dialogue with Dr Maria Guajardo, a professor from Soka University in Japan and a fellow member in SGI USA. I asked her, “How do you keep believing in people?” She replied, “I don’t have to. I just have to keep believing in my own efforts and keep going.”
Her words struck a chord with me. I realised that reconciliation with my father was also an important part of my own human revolution, a chance to transform my karma into mission. I was determined to take full responsibility to guide my father towards absolute happiness and help him live a life of dignity.
I began chanting earnestly for my father’s happiness. Since he did not have tertiary education and was approaching 60, most of the jobs I found were low-paying and insecure. Still, I refused to give up.
One day, I happened to chat with an office cleaner and asked if her company was hiring. To my surprise, she said yes — the pay was higher than any job I had found online, and it came with a proper contract.
During the interview process, my father was worried about being judged for his past. For the first time, I encouraged him to embrace his experiences and not be ashamed of himself.
At that moment, I realised that through chanting for my father’s happiness, I was also transforming my own life. I was learning to let go of my prejudices and to see him with compassion. I came to appreciate that without him, I would never have encountered this life-changing Buddhist practice or developed the capacity for empathy and forgiveness.
Through my constant encouragement my father began chanting more consistently. Within a week, he secured the job and soon after, successfully obtained a public rental flat with a co-tenant, which created a conducive environment for him to carry out his Buddhist practice.
Discovering My Mission
Just as I was rejoicing over this breakthrough, another storm arose. My partner of seven years suddenly initiated a breakup. I was devastated. My first instinct was not to confide in anyone, but to seek guidance from Ikeda Sensei’s writings.
After chanting for the courage and compassion to face my partner, I met him and learnt that he was struggling deeply with self-doubt and personal hardships. To my surprise, he told me he wanted to start chanting. I took him to SGS activities such as Friday With You and sincerely chanted for his happiness. I also encouraged him with my personal experience of overcoming difficult relations with my superior at work.
Even amid my heartbreak, I did not harbour resentment. Instead, I felt profound compassion. Through prayer and reflection, I developed a broader perspective that even if we did not reconcile, the most important thing was that he must become absolutely happy.
In that moment, I recognised the same broad-minded and stand-alone spirit that my mother has long embodied — a life condition forged through faith.
Ikeda Sensei once wrote:
“You undoubtedly have a mission that only you can fulfil. Faith in the Daishonin’s Buddhism enables us to bring out and use in the most positive way the unique attributes that we each possess. (Living the Gosho: Words of Encouragement from SGI President Ikeda)
For the longest time, I could not grasp what my unique mission was. But looking back, I see that each challenge has shaped me into a stronger person with deeper compassion.
I have learned to break through my lesser self, to live with courage, and to work tirelessly for the happiness of those around me, especially those with whom I share profound karmic ties. My mission lies precisely in this: to empathise with and encourage others who are struggling, and to help them find hope through faith.
Carrying On My Mentor’s Vow
The September 2025 SGI Youth Training Course in Japan further deepened my understanding of this mission. Throughout the training course, I felt Ikeda Sensei’s spirit of encouraging every person he met as if it were the last time he would see them.
At the Azabu Culture Centre, I met a seven-year-old girl who was fearful of attending school because she was afraid of failure. I gently embraced her and encouraged her to have courage, no matter what. In that moment, I felt a surge of warmth, the same compassion that I had felt in Sensei’s guidance. I realised that this desire to encourage others, one person at a time, is the very essence of my mentor’s heart.
In January 2025, I was appointed as a YWD Zone Chief. I made a firm determination to treasure all my YWD leaders and members, ensuring that we advance together joyfully in faith.
Since then, I have been striving to conduct regular home visits and heart-to-heart dialogues with my YWD leaders, encouraging them to reach out to their fellow YWD to foster youthful successors throughout the zone and strengthening warm ties of comradeship.
As a disciple of Ikeda Sensei, I vow to uphold my faith in Nichiren Buddhism and inherit my mentor’s vow to spread this life-affirming practice for the happiness of others. Moving forward, I will cherish every encounter as if it were my last — forming genuine, life-to-life connections and imparting courage to those around me so they too can awaken to their unique missions.
In all my actions, I will encapsulate the spirit of this guidance from Ikeda Sensei, “… practising Nichiren Buddhism involves keeping the future of kosen-rufu firmly in mind and striving with open hearts to forge cordial and harmonious relations with members and non-members alike, showing consideration and mutual respect and treasuring friendship.” (The New Human Revolution Vol 30, “Vow” chapter)
Through embracing my own struggles and transforming them into strength, I have found my mission — one that only I can fulfil.
(Adapted from Creative Times, November 2025 issue)
