This
is the last in series of dialogues about the mentor-disciple relationship
between A MEMBER (AM) who represents the doubts and concerns I’ve had
about the mentor-disciple relationship over the years, and a DISTRICT LEADER
(DL) who represents my understanding of the mentor-disciple relationship
today.
The
previous five parts of this dialogue were: “Mentor-Disciple in The Lotus Sutra”,
“The Lion King”, “Following the Path”, “Taking Action”
and “Spreading Far and Wide”.
TWO PIECES OF THE PUZZLE
AM: So have you benefitted from the mentor-disciple
relationship?
DL: Definitely, It’s really helped me to
connect with my mission as a votary of the Lotus Sutra, and Sensei’s words and
example in faith, have given me both the confidence to carry out my human
revolution, support other members and share this Buddhism with co-workers and
friends, as well as the motivation to stand up and take responsibility for
myself and my district.
AM: So how can I make the mentor’s vision shine
in my life and district?
DL: Basically, by continuing to deepen your
understanding of Nichiren Buddhism, by chanting, and by using the wisdom of your
daimoku to stand up and take action imbued with the mentor-disciple spirit for
the happiness of ourselves and others.
In “The New Human Revolution – Vol. 17”, President
Ikeda writes “The mentor-disciple relationship in Buddhism starts with the
compassion of Shakyamuni Buddha to teach his followers the path to
enlightenment on the one hand, and the seeking spirit of his followers to grasp
the Law on the other. In short, it is a unity of spirit that is only possible
through the disciple’s voluntary act of will” (p9-10).
AM: Okay, so what Sensei is saying here is that
this is a two-way relationship. The
mentor teaches the Law and embodies the Law in his daily life, and the seeking
spirit of the disciple deepens their understanding of the Law which they embody in their life and
actions.
DL: That’s right, but it’s also important to remember that while
Sensei models the attitude and behaviour of someone who has made the Mystic Law
their standard, Nichiren reminds
us that people who “forget the original teacher who had brought [us] the water
of wisdom from the great ocean of the Lotus Sutra and instead follow another
would surely cause [us] to sink into the endless sufferings of birth and
death.” (WND-1, 747)
AM: So, while we may credit
President Ikeda as someone who has inspired us in our practice, we don’t need
to put him on a pedestal, or sit around talking about how great he is, we just
need to stand up and share with others how great the Mystic Law is.
DL: Exactly. The vow of Shakyamuni’s disciples in the Lotus Sutra is to “roar
the lion’s roar” (Watson, LSOC, p232) and President Ikeda encourages us to
ensure that this vow “embodying the Soka Gakkai spirit and directly connected
to the spirit of the Daishonin, is transmitted to the future and endures for
all eternity.” (April 2014 Newsletter 8982)
If we want to follow the path of mentor
and disciple, and practice with the oneness of mentor and disciple, we just
need to put into action the “essence of
the Soka Gakkai spirit ... [which is] for each of us to take the Daishonin’s spirit as his own and strive to help
others embrace faith in the Mystic Law and realize genuine happiness” (Josei
Toda’s words at the May 3, 1954 Soka Gakkai General Meeting repeated by Daisaku
Ikeda at the Soka Gakkai HQ Leaders Meeting in April 2014 - Newsletter 8982)
AM: Wow.
Thank you so much for coming today.
I was nervous that I still wouldn’t understand the mentor-disciple
relationship after last week’s Chapter Study, but you’ve really opened my eyes
today and shown me that this oneness of mentor and disciple is not just about
our connection with President Ikeda, but also about deepening our connection
with the spirit of Nichiren Daishonin, deepening our understanding of Shakyamuni
Buddha’s Lotus Sutra and taking action to share our hope-filled practice and the
wonderful benefits of embracing the Mystic Law with others.