Creating Waves of Change

Great Ship District

Toronto

I was introduced to Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism by my aunt in India in 2012. I was impressed by how my seven-year-old cousin turned around a situation at school. During my 11 years of practice, I have victoriously faced many challenges by keeping faith at the centre of my life. As a young women’s group leader in India, I took care of the youth and Future Division members. I engaged in over 400 dialogues and introduced 75 people to this philosophy. 

After overcoming many hurdles to receive my visa, I moved to Canada in June 2019 to pursue a master’s degree in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. However, when I arrived, I discovered that my admission offer had been revoked, but mystically, I received a last-minute offer from Queen’s University in Kingston. 

Right away, I faced lots of challenges, like building strong bonds of friendship, making financial ends meet, and launching my business. However, with a solid faith, I based my life on the Mystic Law[1] while working on myself. I was able to not only overcome the challenges, but to also achieve great victories. Nichiren Daishonin writes: 

“The stronger one’s faith, the greater the protection of the gods.” This means that the protection of the gods depends on the strength of one’s faith. The Lotus Sutra is a fine sword, but its might depends on the one who wields it. (“General Stone Tiger,” WND-1, 953) 

After practising steadily for nine years while chanting abundant daimoku,[2] I realized that my mission is to work in the social impact sector. I wanted to not just earn an income with my work, but to work with a purpose and encourage other youth. As a result, I launched a start-up in 2020 while I was studying at Queen’s University. I received immense support from the university, and I was able to build a great team. However, even though I received some funding, I struggled with my finances because I was an immigrant. So I turned to the Gohonzon[3] and chanted daimoku. I immersed myself in my studies, and I participated in SGI activities with the young women's group members in Kingston. 

Nichiren Daishonin writes,

“Where there is unseen virtue, there will be visible reward” (“Unseen Virtue and Visible Reward,” WND-1, 907)

Mystically, my program head at Queen’s offered me a part-time job to lead the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion efforts for my program. This offered me financial relief. 

Because of the pandemic, it was an emotionally challenging time for me. COVID-19 cases were at an all-time high in India. In April 2021, I lost one of my beloved kosen-rufu leaders in India. I was shattered to hear about all the lives lost. I channeled my sorrow into creating more good causes by supporting the SGI members in Canada, and by launching a fundraiser in Kingston to send relief funds to marginalized communities in India. We raised $10,000, and we were featured on a lot of Canadian news channels and press.

In May 2021, I moved from Kingston to Toronto for better opportunities, and to be in a bigger city. At first, I was overwhelmed, but I decided to give it my all and plunge in. I got connected to a local district in the Toronto West Area. On the advice of one of my Queen’s professors, I joined an innovation hub in Toronto called Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) and incubated my start-up there. I got support from the community to grow my network. However, soon I started having financial troubles again. I was working as a full-time entrepreneur, but I was supporting myself with only a remote part-time job with Queen’s.

I vividly remember how, one day in June 2021, I was sitting in front of the Gohonzon, worrying about my situation. I had borrowed money from my friends, and I was paying back my student loan. I had emptied my savings and had bootstrapped my business. I chanted fervently in front of the Gohonzon that day. I determined that by November 18, 2021, I will earn a certain amount per month and keep creating value through my work. As I chanted, I developed a child-like spirit. I stopped worrying about my financial situation. I just knew that if I kept up my faith, practice and study, it would all work out. 

Mystically, in September 2021, I was hired part-time by the same business incubator with which I was already affiliated—the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI). I wrote a research paper on climate change that was presented at the United Nations Conference of Parties in 2021, which was the biggest summit at the United Nations. I suddenly felt that I was not only creating causes but also living SGI President Ikeda’s vision. I continued to immerse myself in my Buddhist practice, but I was still far from achieving my goal of earning enough money to sustain myself. However, I kept chanting abundant daimoku, attending meetings, and studying Gosho.[4] 

Paluck with her mother, Preeti, and
father, Pradeep, at her graduation
from the masters program at
Queen's University in June 2022.


In October 2021, I met someone at CSI who was working on measuring social impact. We had a great conversation, and it turned out that my business was fully aligned with the work they were doing on a project for the Government of Canada. My business was rooted in learning from one another and researching how an individual’s impact can be tracked—the impact when they upskill themselves and help others. I sat for an interview to be hired full-time by CSI. To my surprise, the director leading the project was my professor at Queen’s University who had referred me to join CSI in the first place. It was such a mystic moment.  

I am happy to report that I started working full-time for CSI’s charity organization. I am  focusing on the Government of Canada project, which supports organizations across Canada to track their social impact, while aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With this opportunity, I get to build my own business while assisting thousands of mission-driven organizations and entrepreneurs to identify the impact they are making, and how best to promote it. I feel truly aligned with Ikeda Sensei’s goal, vision and guidance for kosen-rufu.[5] My heart is so full when I realize how chanting to the Gohonzon has worked for me. I created the best of all possible outcomes for my life. 

I also received a lot of benefits from the company. I get 15 mental health days a year in addition to other paid leave, and I get to connect with funders for my own business, despite being their employee. I have a supportive manager who makes sure I get all the exposure, opportunities and support possible. In short, I feel like I’m working with Buddhas in my office because the company culture is wonderful, and I feel wholeheartedly respected as a human being. 

I am also happy to report that I was featured on a national list of emerging leaders in Canada for my work in the social impact field. I attribute these victories to the power of Buddhism which helps me become a better version of myself every single day. Recently, I was very proud to be inducted as a member of the SGI Canada Maple Leaf Group, which supports meetings behind-the-scenes. I have continued to have dialogues with friends, and I am super happy to report that I have introduced many new friends in faith as I challenge myself to show actual proof of the power of the Mystic Law. Sensei says: 

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo[6] is the fundamental power of the universe. When we chant daimoku infused with a vow, we can align our lives with the rhythm of the universe and tap limitless vitality, courage and wisdom. We can realize our prayers and enfold everyone in our environment, our society and even the world in the wondrous sound and rhythm of happiness, of the Mystic Law.[7] 

I vow to keep faith at the centre of my life, to unleash my highest potential, and to be a living actual proof of the Mystic Law, in order to encourage others. I am determined to advance kosen-rufu by creating causes and to uphold the Gohonzon till the last breath of my life.

Published in March 2023 New Century 

  

[1] Mystic Law: The ultimate law, principle, or truth of life and the universe in Nichiren’s teachings; the Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

[2] Daimoku: Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in Nichiren Daishonin’s teachings.

[3] Gohonzon: The object of devotion in Nichiren Buddhism. It is the embodiment of the Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, expressing the life state of Buddhahood, which all people inherently possess. Go means “worthy of honour” and honzon means “object of fundamental respect.”

[4] Gosho: The individual and collected writings of Nichiren Daishonin.

[5] Kosen-rufu: Literally, it means “to widely declare and spread [the Lotus Sutra]”; to secure lasting peace and happiness for all humankind through the propagation of Nichiren Buddhism. More broadly, kosen-rufu refers to the process of establishing the humanistic ideals of Nichiren Buddhism in society.

[6] Nam-myoho-renge-kyo: The fundamental Law of the universe expounded in Nichiren Buddhism, it expresses the true aspect of life. Chanting it allows people to directly tap their enlightened nature and is the primary practice of SGI members.

[7] New Century, July 2021, p. 12.