‘No Matter What, I Will Find One Youth!’

As we walked, Will asked if he could share something very personal with me. I could tell he was nervous. He told me he had been thinking about hurting himself because he felt so hopeless. I asked him to tell me his story. He had been adopted when he was 3 years old and was now serving in the military. I listened and told him that his feelings were human. I understood his hopelessness because I had experienced it myself.

In 1992, at age 29, I was also suffering deeply feeling lost. I had come to this country three years earlier from Montenegro (former Yugoslavia) and had lost 19 different jobs, most of them because I was fired. I felt hopeless, helpless and lost. I didn’t know how to go on living.

Then I began chanting. I started feeling hope, transformed my life and discovered my calling. I eventually became a caregiver, then a licensed therapist, discovering my mission to help others.

Instead of explaining Buddhist concepts to Will, I shared my own story. I told him, “Chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. When you chant, you can change your destiny and your feelings.” I could tell he was ready to connect with somebody—to relate to somebody. In the two to three hours of hiking, trust was born.

We exchanged phone numbers and stayed in touch. I kept in my heart the determination This is one youth. He needs this practice. 

But introducing others to this practice is not easy. There were days when I had doubts, wondering if I had what it took to encourage him. Through chanting, I realized that I didn’t have to be perfect. I had all the tools I needed: my unique experience, resolute prayer and my Buddhist practice. I just needed to listen to him and be there for him.

Over time, our friendship deepened. Will came to my home and spent hours talking with my wife and two sons. I connected him with the zone leader, who lived closer to him. It became a team effort. All of us supported him by going to meetings together, chanting with him and having dialogues. 

After a few months, he told me, “I have a different outlook on life.” Later, he messaged me, “Ever since we met, I don’t feel like hurting myself anymore.” I saw the enormous power of our Buddhist practice—how someone who had been so hopeless can now say, “I want to live.”

On July 28, Will received the Gohonzon. Through introducing him to Buddhism, I transformed too. I gained more conviction and hope. Seeing him change deepened my conviction in the power of the Mystic Law and strengthened my vow to do more shakubuku.

Ikeda Sensei says: “Having been born human, what is the greatest happiness we can experience? It is teaching others about the Mystic Law. Those who share Nichiren Buddhism with many others gain immense benefit. There truly is no greater happiness. That’s why I will continue to strive with joy and gratitude as long as I live” (The New Human Revolution, vol. 28, p. 304).

Every single day, I read this encouragement. With Sensei, I want to “strive with joy and gratitude.” Sometimes I struggle with this and feel tired and frustrated. But with this one youth, I am experiencing profound joy and gratitude. Seeing his life transform, my joy multiplies.

I made a determination to introduce one more youth toward 2028, no matter what and to do it with joy and gratitude—to experience the greatest happiness possible.

August 21, 2026 World Tribune, p. 8