Part 3: Kosen-rufu and World Peace
Chapter 27: The Mentor-Disciple Relationship Is the Heart of the Soka Gakkai [27.7]

Throughout his novel The New Human Revolution, President Ikeda touches on the profound nature of the mentor-disciple relationship. The excerpted passages below describe how the novel’s protagonist, Shin’ichi Yamamoto (whose character represents President Ikeda), has opened the way for kosen-rufu while cherishing his mentor, Josei Toda, in his heart and carrying on an internal dialogue with him.

[In response to a young man who at a leaders meeting asks what they should bear in mind in their efforts to make the Soka Gakkai’s movement more open to society.]

Shin’ichi answered unhesitatingly: “Walk the path of mentor and disciple.”

Watching the young man’s reaction, he continued: “You’re wondering what mentor and disciple has to do with it, aren’t you? It’s like the relationship between centrifugal (outward) and centripetal (inward) forces in rotational motion.

“Developing a movement that widely spreads the ideals of Buddhism into society is like a centrifugal, or outward, force. The stronger this centrifugal force becomes, the more important it is to have a powerful centripetal, or inward, force directed toward the teachings of Buddhism. And the source of that centripetal force is the spirit of oneness of mentor and disciple.

“In recent years, youth division members have brimmed with the spirit to show victorious actual proof of their Buddhist practice in society and have gradually become more aware of the importance of social contribution. That’s a wonderful thing. But if you forget the fundamental goal of kosen-rufu and become obsessed with achieving personal renown and success, you can easily end up making light of the realm of faith. And, if you start to judge others based on their social status or position and look down on people, you’ll have defeated the entire purpose.

“The way of mentor and disciple is crucial to walking the true path of humanity and Buddhism.”

The mentor-disciple relationship in Buddhism starts with the compassion of Shakyamuni Buddha to teach his disciples the path to enlightenment and the seeking spirit of his disciples to understand his teaching. In short, it is a spiritual bond that depends on the self-motivated will of the disciple. This is also clear when we look at the relationship between Nichiren Daishonin and his direct disciple and successor, Nikko Shonin.

The way of mentor and disciple is strict. Nowhere else can we find the great path of human revolution and attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime.

Shin’ichi strongly recounted to the young people: “I also dedicated myself wholeheartedly to Mr. Toda, supported him, and have done my best to fulfill my mission as his disciple. I always achieved the goals he set, showing actual proof of victory. Had I allowed myself to be defeated, his plans would have come to naught, and I would, in effect, have been betraying my mentor.

“In his final years, Mr. Toda said to me: ‘Shin’ichi, you’ve achieved everything I asked. You even took seriously things I said half-jokingly and brought them to fruition. I don’t trust people who are all talk. What matters are the actions one takes. With you here, I know I have nothing to worry about.’

“Those words are my greatest source of pride. They describe what it means to be a genuine disciple. I am always talking with Mr. Toda in my heart. I am always asking myself what he would do in any given situation, what he would say to me if he saw what I am doing. A mentor is a role model for your entire life.”

From The New Human Revolution, vol. 17, “Main Bastion” chapter.