Ever since I was old enough to be aware of my surroundings, my family lived in discord. My father was addicted to alcohol and did not have a secure job. Whenever he was drunk, he quarrelled with my mother and was abusive toward her.

I started to embrace faith after my aunty encouraged and brought me to participate in the SGM junior division meetings, and other activities. The attentive care and concern shown by the senior members of the young women’s division filled me with warmth and encouragement.

I did not get good grades in primary school but my seniors-in-faith encouraged me to persevere in my studies and to pray to be able to learn quickly and effectively. Through chanting, I found that my classmates were more willing to guide me and one of my teachers even allowed me to attend his tuition classes for free. I was very happy when I scored six A’s in the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) examinations. This included the subjects that I had failed many times before. My teachers were proud of my transformation and awarded me a certificate of excellence.

In 2011, I enrolled in the Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Honours) programme at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Kuala Lumpur. At that time, my mother also started this Buddhist practice. However, many problems started cropping up. Since my parents couldn’t afford to pay for my tuition fees, I applied for a loan from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN). However, the five-year course proved more challenging than I had anticipated. Despite my best efforts, I often fell short of the required grades and was disqualified from receiving the PTPTN loan. As a result, my parents struggled to find ways to pay for my fees. Sometimes, they borrowed money from relatives and were extremely careful with their spending.

Feeling the weight of my parents’ sacrifices, I contemplated giving up my studies to spare them further hardship. However, President Ikeda‘s guidance resounded within me urging me not to be defeated and not to give up. I then summoned the courage to press on.

I prayed fervently to the Gohonzon for the opportunity to secure a part-time job and alleviate my parents’ financial burden. Some classmates, unaware of my struggles, said to me sarcastically, “Your grades are so poor and you still want to work?”

President Ikeda also taught that courage entails not only facing challenges bravely but also confronting them despite fear. Therefore, despite encountering numerous obstacles, I continued to pray earnestly and refused to give up.

Shortly after, I encountered a kind-hearted business owner who understood my demanding schedule. Not only did he offer a good salary, but he also permitted me to complete my homework during my spare time at work. As a result, I managed to raise more than half of the tuition fees, significantly easing my parents’ financial burden. I firmly believe that this achievement is attributed to the power of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Despite the demanding workload and fatigue, I was determined to take on the challenge, making sure to juggle school, work and kosen-rufu activities smoothly.

In 2016, I successfully passed all subjects, some of which with good grades. I was overjoyed.

After graduation, I worked in a glove factory. My supervisor was a perfectionist and even though I tried my best, I was still criticised for being inefficient. I gradually lost my motivation to work. Coupled with worries about romantic and interpersonal relationships and financial challenges, I isolated myself from other people, refusing to connect with them. Matters worsened to the point where I nearly abandoned chanting and participated in SGM activities only out of formality.

To escape the pressure at work, I resigned in 2018. I returned to UTAR to pursue a master’s programme under a scholarship, naively thinking that I could finally start a new life without facing trouble at work. However, to my surprise, my supervising professor was also a perfectionist. No matter what I did, whether it was an experiment or a research paper, she would harshly criticise me. What worried me most was that her assessment would determine whether or not I would receive further financial aid.

I hit rock bottom once again. At my most desperate moment, a young women’s division member offered me warm encouragement, saying, ‘I have faith in you.’ She encouraged me to not give up and also to join the culture group activities again. I gave her my promise but I wasn’t’serious.

However, this member’s earnest support and sincerity touched me. She even prepared meals for me during every culture group practice. It was only later that I discovered she hadn’t received her salary for five months. I was deeply moved by her actions in caring for and encouraging others. I resolved not to run away from my problems anymore.

From then onwards, I chanted daimoku earnestly every day, practicing human revolution, and accepting my professor’s criticisms with an open mind while striving to complete each task to the best of my ability. At the same time, I actively participated in SGM activities, including taking up the responsibility as one of the persons-in-charge for the opening dance performance of the 2019 Run for Peace. Additionally, I took part in “The Arts and Culture of the Chinese” culture show in Negeri Sembilan in 2019. These experiences have helped enrich my personal growth, fostering a deeper sense of purpose and empowering me to make meaningful contributions to my community.

At university, my earnest attitude gradually earned the approval of my professor. She did not just give me high marks but asked me to help other students as well. She also submitted my dissertation to an international academic symposium in Bali, Indonesia and my paper stood out from thousands of others and won the Best Paper Award!

Later, I was hired as a chemist in a glove factory in Melaka, with a salary higher than the market rate at the time. It was only later that my supervisor revealed to me that he was deeply moved by the significant changes in my life. He also shared my struggles with other colleagues, using my experience to inspire and motivate them. This experience has shown me that a person’s human revolution can truly be a beacon of hope for others.

When the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in 2020, numerous work restrictions were imposed. Nevertheless, I had to return to the company to work on important projects, often extending my work hours into late nights. In recognition of my dedication, the company granted me additional perks and salary raises. I am genuinely delighted to have received such acknowledgment from the company, especially considering that I only started working there for about half a year.

As for my father, I’m happy to say that since he began earnestly practicing Nichiren Buddhism, he has stopped drinking and being abusive. Instead, he is working hard, and the family’s finances have greatly improved. In both my studies and work, I have achieved more than I expected, and I am truly grateful to this practice. I will continue to strive to be a beacon of hope for others as a way of repaying my debt of gratitude to my mentor, President Ikeda, and to SGM.

Adapted from September 2022 COSMIC