Mentor-Disciple Day

Today is Mentor-Disciple Day in the SGI.   July 3rd was the day that the SGI's second president, Josei Toda was released from prison in 1945.

The mentor-disciple relationship has its basis in the Emerging from the Earth chapter of the Lotus Sutra when the Bodhisattvas of the Earth (the disciples) rise up and vow to Shakyamuni (the mentor) to spread the teachings of the Lotus Sutra.  It was also copied by the disciples of Nichiren Daishonin who travelled across Japan telling others about Nichiren Buddhism.

The mentor-disciple relationship can sometimes cause confusion for some members and non-members who think of this kind of relationship as similar to an apprentice/master or a cult leader expecting devotion, but it’s basically just a matter of embracing the inspirational role-model of faith, and the vision of kosen-rufu, embodied by our spiritual leader President Ikeda based on his thoughts, words and actions as a Nichiren Buddhist. 

President Ikeda is not our God or an object of worship, but a lay-believer of Nichiren Buddhism and a Bodhisattva of the Earth.  He does his best to support and guide us, helping us to understand the wisdom of the Lotus Sutra and the humanity of the Gosho, but he also wants us to do our best to go beyond his efforts and achievements in bringing about the happiness of all humanity and teaching others about Nichiren Buddhism. 

** In July 2015 I posted an entry about the origins of the mentor/disciple relationship with Shakyamuni: http://nichirenbuddhist.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/mentor-disciple-origins-shakyamuni.html

** I wrote another piece about the mentor/disciple relationship in August 2012.  It's part (iv) on the following page http://nichirenbuddhist.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/14-leaders-of-pack.html

** Explained more about WHY and HOW we celebrate Mentor - Disciple day on July 1st 2013:  http://nichirenbuddhist.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/why-mentor-disciple-day.html

** And more information on the ONENESS of Mentor-Disciple here:  http://nichirenbuddhist.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/oneness-of-mentor-and-disciple.html

** And 2014's update on the spirit of July 3rd - Mentor-Disciple day:
http://nichirenbuddhist.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/building-our-own-future.html