The mentor-disciple relationship of the first three presidents of the Soka Gakkai is in complete accord with the Daishonin’s teaching. It is crucial to resolutely challenge anyone who would trample on this mentor-disciple spirit. And the more strenuously we protect it, the more fortune we will accumulate! ​​

In “Flowering and Bearing Grain,” Daishonin writes: “It is said that, if a teacher has a good disciple, both will gain the fruit of Buddhahood, but if a teacher fosters a bad disciple, both will fall into hell. If teacher and disciple are of different minds, they will never accomplish anything” (WND-1, 909). This is an extremely important Gosho passage that I hope you will all remember. Here, the Daishonin doesn’t say, “if the disciple has a good teacher”; he says, “if the teacher has a good disciple.” If a mentor has good disciples, then that person is a good mentor. The key point here is whether or not we are good disciples.​

​Mr. Makiguchi had a good disciple in Mr. Toda. And Mr. Toda had a good disciple in me. The worth of the mentor is determined by the disciple—not by the mentor, but by the disciple.  ​

The mentor-disciple relationship of the first three presidents of the Soka Gakkai is in complete accord with the Daishonin’s teaching. It is crucial to resolutely challenge anyone who would trample on this mentor-disciple spirit. And the more strenuously we protect it, the more fortune we will accumulate!

“Share your thoughts and celebrate the life of our beloved mentor by contributing a eulogy on the site https://daisakuikedalegacy.org/wordpress/eulogy
Your words will forever cherish his memory.”​