Experience of Arun Chandna

My name is Arun Chandna.
I was introduced to the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin 9 years ago by my cousin brother after I
failed in 11th standard, hoping to improve my grades.
As I started practicing, my grades improved, however, due to my lack of consistency in the efforts to study, I was on the verge of failing once again. But this time, Nam Myoho Renge Kyo saved me, and my teachers allowed me to move to the next standard.
At that time my only ambition was to become a computer engineer, so that I can get a handsome
salary package and a nice job. So after completing my school, I took up a course in Bachelors of Information Technology.
While I was in the 2nd year of my college, I faced a relationship break up and I was just not able to sustain the pain, and was almost shattered. Somehow I couldn't challenge my pain completely through faith and had to go through a psychiatric treatment for two years, taking antidepressants and sleeping pills. The dosage kept on increasing with time. I had lost focus of my life; I tried to fight and win over my pain, but ended up using alcohol and sleeping pills to escape from the challenges before me. I lost interest in studies and stopped going to college and took up a job to mange the expenses of my medication. I had also stopped going to Gakkai meetings by this time.
A year later, one day after returning from office, I had acute pain in my stomach because of food
poisoning and I did not had anything but the Gohonzon to rely on. I gathered all the strength and got up to chant three Daimoku in front of the Gohonzon and just fell on the floor. This once again connected me to Gakkai and slowly I became active in faith once again.
Attending meetings gave me hope and courage and I started chanting to discover my mission in life.
After one and a half year I decided to leave the job and get back to the studies, by this time I had also left the medication as I was feeling better, but again the depression took over and due to loss of memory because of the medication, I found it hard to concentrate in studies. To make things worse, my institute was closed down by this time.
Struggling for the May 3rd campaign in 2006, I had the responsibility of the Cultural Performance with the Future Division. Taking care of the Future Division gave me a lot of hope and encouragement, the way they were struggling to learn their dance steps even after being so tired, they never gave up.
This was a turning point in my life, where I sincerely vowed to follow the path of mentor and disciple.
On May 3rd 2006, I determined to give up all my escapist strategies of alcohol and sleeping pills. I started participating in meetings, and the strength from Gakkai activities helped me to come out of the depression instantly.
Daimoku had become like water for me. I had stopped looking towards the clock while chanting, I kept chanting until my life was full of joy and hope.
I got the responsibility of distributing and promoting the Value Creation. I poured my whole life in all my efforts for kosen rufu. I also started taking care of the future division members. Along with this, I took complete responsibility of the monthly Video show of the Headquarter Leader's Video.
Next challenge was to successfully complete my studies which were left behind. Now began the
struggle to find an institute where I could study. But the course content of my university was very different from the one being taught everywhere else. I remembered the lines of sensei, "If you cannot get across a river ten feet wide, how can you cross one that is hundred or two hundred feet wide. You must win, no matter what. Where you are right now. No one can beat a person who has chanted Daimoku with all their might."
After chanting abundant Daimoku, I encountered a teacher who acted as a protective function for me and helped me in all my subjects.
Just when I was about to start my classes with my tutor, I had an injury in my eye. I had severe pain and I was just not able to sleep. The very first thing that came to my mind was to take a sleeping pill, but I could clearly see this as a working of the devilish forces and I decided not to take it and sat down to chant Daimoku to overcome the pain.
Gosho says "Unseen Virtue brings Visible reward."
Within a year I cleared 22 exams out of 27. I still had 5 exams to give and my tutor had left Delhi by this time. I had anxiety and fear that how will I prepare for these 5 exams. I realized that I was dependent on my tutor and not on the Gohonzon. After many failures in a subject I scored 90% marks. This strengthened my resolve to base my preparation completely on faith.
My mark sheet spoke of my efforts very well, but non clearance of a project was a hindrance to get through. I prayed that a path must open up for me; this poison must change into medicine.
By this time, I got the responsibility for the success of this meeting.
As soon as I submitted the fees and application to submit the project, I had a deep inner realization that this is the subject that I was always interested in and this is the field I want to pursue my career in, however, due to some financial issues I had given up my effort to pursue my further study, but by making this project I will further enhance my skills.
I felt as if a spring of joy had started pouring out of my being. I had changed the poison into medicine.
A great new path opened up for me. The problem was not a problem but another opportunity to grow.
Over all these years I realized that as long as I based things on faith in the Gohonzon, everything
turned out to be perfect. Everything was the Buddha's design. Today I no longer seek to accumulate wealth or run after a job or position. Rather, I want to protect the humanity by propagating the Mystic Law as per my Mentor's wish I no longer have time for idle amusements, but a sense of mission to create value in every moment.
I am so deeply indebted to my mentor and my comrades and my family, whose unconditional
compassion and constant encouragement helped me to realize my true potential and mission in life.
I determine to strive in faith more than ever and never to regress in faith.
I determine to excel in my chosen field and bring glory to my mentor.
I determine to help my members lay a strong foundation of faith in their life, so that they can win in life.
Thank you.