Josei Toda concluded that ‘constructing facilities that could forever preserve, perpetuate & communicate the spirit of his mentor was necessary in order to ensure the eternal survival of the Soka Gakkai.’

What is worth being happy is that Malaysia is the world’s’ fourth country to have the Mentor and Disciple Hall. In fact, what is the purpose of the establishment of the Mentor and Disciple Hall?  Our mentor pointed it out one by one in ‘New Human Revolution - Bold Struggle’. He explained that the compassionate individuals who have always been offering us encouragement and dedicating their lives to kosen rufu for the sake of our happiness are our three successive presidents; in which their victorious lives evidently showed us actual proofs derived from practicing our great Buddhism. Hence, viewing our mentors’ belongings and pictures are the best opportunities enabling us to connect and yearn for our mentor and also feeling as though they are just right here with us. And at that moment, we could also reach our mentors’ life condition; igniting our flame within to strive together with them. All items displayed are the evidences of the great struggles of our mentor.

Besides cherishing the memories of our three successive presidents, at the same time, we should once again bring about the sense of appreciation whilst developing understanding, respect and resolve. Besides coming into contact with our mentors’ photographs, listening or watching our mentors’ videos, we can awaken and flourish our innermost vast potential through admiring and following in the footsteps of their victorious struggles. Upon listening to our mentors’ roar of the lion, not only our environment and surrounding changes, even the people who heard it could sense our mentors’ aspirations towards us and subsequently renew and deepen our resolve and determination.

On 8th September 1957 at Mitsuzawa Stadium where the fourth Youth Festival is held, the binoculars Mr. Toda used at that time inspires Mr. Ikeda to renew his determination. On that day, Mr. Toda made his ‘first will’ of calling for the abolishment of nuclear weapons. In order to realize Mr. Toda’s thoughts on peace to realize a society of peaceful co-existence as the common aim of humanity, Mr. Ikeda presents Peace Proposal annually on every 26th January to United Nations realizing our mentors’ wish and aspirations one step at a time.

The Mentor and Disciple Hall is a realistic way for us to grasp the mentor and disciple spirit and realize the path of mentor and disciple. The foundation of the Mentor and Disciple Hall is the relationship between the mentor and disciples and it is indeed the bond of mentor and disciple that ensures eternal flow of Buddhism. People are able to let go of their obstinacy and attain happiness following the path of mentor and disciple. How is that so? Life is a process of endless struggles of problem solving and overcoming difficulties, whereas we ordinary people are easily defeated by our own problems where one would feel that their capabilities are limited and that they can never achieve a breakthrough; viewing all the problems they confront as a dead end without any turning point towards victory. However, with a true mentor in life, regardless what happens, we’d realize that we are indeed the unsurpassed precious Buddha’s disciples in which all problems we face will only be a stepping stones to mould us to be a stronger and happier individual. One example would be Mr. Ikeda’s victorious actual proofs.

At times we may face interpersonal relationship problems or feel that our work place and colleagues are horrible and we’d wish to escape from everything. Why isn’t Mr. Ikeda so? When Mr. Ikeda was attacked verbally and forced to step down, doesn’t he feel dejected or disheartened? All he thought about was who would be the one to protect the organization’s sincere members at the end? Hence, for that reason he was never defeated by the problems he face, instead he resolved to step out into the grand stage of the world and Hawaii was the first country he visited to embark on worldwide kosen rufu. Furthermore, Mr. Ikeda’s health was very frail and he often falls sick when he was young, even the doctor said that he cannot live beyond 30 years of age but at present, he is a healthy elderly nearing 82 years of age. The young Daisaku Ikeda never gives up even though he has to shoulder numerous responsibilities in which he industriously runs the publishing business where at the end, not only he settled all debts but also helped the company to earn profits. He once asked Mr. Toda, what should one equip himself with to speak to the world’s foremost individuals? Mr. Toda then replied him saying that one’s temperament, knowledge, firm philosophy and character is indispensable. Since then, Mr. Ikeda upholds the belief that dialogue is the key towards constructing peace and thus visited 54 countries implementing non violence as well as conducted dialogue over 1600 times with numerous world leaders and scholars. The year 2010 is Mr. Ikeda’s 50th anniversary being inaugurated as president and the problems Mr. Ikeda confronted all those years never daunted him, hence should we even think about giving up or be disheartened? If we make a resolve and earnestly chant to Gohonzon evaluating our own capabilities and what once seemed impossible and  courageously strive all out to confront our obstacles, impossible can miraculously become possible. 

The song ‘Dainanko’ can be heard in one of the rooms in Mentor Disciple Hall at Shikoku Japan as well as the display of a sculpture of a slightly slanted boat with a pitch dark cultural centre on the shore and as well as a sculpture of Mr. Ikeda holding a torch light in the building. Every time when the members see this sculpture, they will think about the situation back then. It was on the 24th April when Mr. Ikeda was forced to step down and forbidden to give any guidance. At that time, Shikoku members travelled by boat to meet Mr. Ikeda at the centre and Mr. Ikeda played that song in which soon after he named the song ‘Dainanko’. At their departure, Mr. Ikeda was standing on the top floor of the centre holding a torch light bidding them farewell. Everyone on the boat went up to the front of the boat and waved goodbye to him. This incident truly touched everyone regardless whether they are Youth Division, Men or Women Division etching their determination to do their utmost and earnestly strive alongside Mr. Ikeda.

Hence, we shouldn’t visit Mentor Disciple Hall with the same attitude like visiting a museum because this is dissimilar. The Mentor and Disciple Hall is a centre truly perpetuating the spirit of mentor and disciple in which we should carry the attitude that ‘Ikeda Sensei is waiting for me’ upon every visit to the Hall. Every encounter can bring out ones resolve and how to put it into action whilst at the same time encourage others to strive together. To live a life dedicated for the sake of kosen rufu is Soka’s true mentor and disciple spirit. Soka Gakkai will eternally perpetuate such mentor and disciple spirit.

In New Human Revolution – Bold Struggle, it mentioned that Tsunesaburo Mackiguchi and Josei Toda’s memorial tablet is situated in a small room at Mie Prefecture’s Memorial Hall. Chanting daimoku in that room transcends the bonds and interconnectedness of the oneness of mentor and disciple spirit of three lifetimes. This is something we could accomplish everyday. Our morning gongyo is a prayer of resolve in which we vow to contribute our lives for the sake of kosen rufu with our mentor. Evening gongyo is the prayer to express appreciation of encountering this Great Buddhism as well as and gratitude towards our great mentors. Because of our three successive presidents, we are able to encounter this great Buddhism, Gohonzon and study gosho. Consequently, we became aware of our profound mission as Boddhisattva of the Earth walking on the path of absolute happiness.

A soulful mentor can radiate peoples’ life; fearless of the dark that even in the darkness of despair, one still brims with the brilliant rays of hope and courage. Ultimately, the mentor and disciple hall is established for us and built for the sake of Malaysia’s kosen rufu. Attributable to the existence of the Mentor and Disciple Hall, we are able to understand the greatness of our mentor and perhaps enable the people around us to come to know our mentor. For that reason, let us all chant together for the smooth completion of the interior works of the Mentor and Disciple Hall as well as the absolute success for the opening ceremony on 5th December. The Mentor and Disciple Hall is just a solid structure and no matter how good it is constructed, without everyone’s efforts, we won’t be able to achieve success and victory. All of us are the protagonists of the mentor and disciple spirit and may us all start with our family members and friends! But first of all, we must feel Mr. Ikeda’s spirit and heart contents and share with them and then visit the Mentor and Disciple Hall together with them. This is the first step towards victory!

Labels: e. Words of mentor