Striving with the Shared Vow of Mentor and Disciple
May is a significant month for the Soka Gakkai as 192 countries and territories around the world commemorate May 3, Soka Gakkai Day. Toda Sensei and Ikeda Sensei were inaugurated as the second president and third president of the Soka Gakkai respectively in 1951 and 1960. Also, this year marks the 65th anniversary of Ikeda Sensei’s inauguration.
Ikeda Sensei once wrote in an editorial: “Nichiren Daishonin writes: ‘Let the gods forsake me. Let all persecutions assail me. Still, I will give my life for the sake of the Law’. (WND-1,p. 280) When I was inaugurated as third president of the Soka Gakkai on May 3, 1960, I made this passage from ‘The Opening of the Eyes’ my own spirit and vowed to dedicate my life to the realisation of worldwide kosen-rufu, ready to bear all hardships and persecutions along the way.”
Ikeda Sensei did just that, fulfilling his vow for kosen-rufu based on the Gosho passage from “The Opening of the Eyes”. Since his inauguration, he strove relentlessly for the sake of realising worldwide kosen-rufu till the last moment of his life. He brought Nichiren Buddhism to the people in every continent, awakening them to the great potential within their life and the faith and practice that allow them to unleash their potential to attain absolute happiness.
In his pursuit to establish lasting peace, visiting 54 countries, he conducted numerous dialogues with authorities and academics of different realms. He brought forth the great awareness of the sanctity of life through SGI’s peace, culture and education efforts. And before his passing, he had eternalised the Soka Gakkai to take flight as a world religion that can positively impact the lives of people and societies as we advance into the 22nd century. Through the years, he prevailed over countless hardships and triumphed over persecutions to establish an indomitable Soka Gakkai.
With regard to the significance of May 3, Ikeda Sensei once stated in his guidance: “May 3 is the day that the Soka Gakkai set forth to fulfil the great vow of realising kosen-rufu through the compassionate propagation of Buddhism in complete accord with the will and decree of Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Daishonin. The spirit of May 3 is the shared vow of mentor and disciple. Making a personal vow and acting to fulfil it is the quintessential stance of a Buddha.
“As long as this day of eternal commitment remains as its foundation, the Soka Gakkai will brim with the inexhaustible and indefatigable life-force of
the Buddha and continue to open the way to victory forever, unimpeded by any obstacle.”
As we commemorate May 3 with the profoundest debts of gratitude to our mentor, Ikeda Sensei, let us all strive with the shared vow of mentor and
disciple as stated in the above guidance. Dedicate our lives to ensuring that the Soka Gakkai and Ikeda Sensei’s legacy will be eternalised for the sake of
our future generations, and the eternal perpetuation of Nichiren Buddhism no matter what difficulties and obstacles we might face.
