I’ve fostered you into capable people. Now I leave things up to you. The time has come for you to take responsibility, decide what to do, and see it through on your own​

Back in the 1950s, as the Soka Gakkai was moving closer, step by step, to its goal of 750,000 member households, Josei Toda, the second president of the Soka Gakkai, increasingly entrusted us, his disciples, with the leadership of our movement. At that juncture, he also decided not to attend every meeting, including some Headquarters leaders meetings, saying: “I’ve fostered you into capable people. Now I leave things up to you. The time has come for you to take responsibility, decide what to do, and see it through on your own.” I realised that Mr Toda, a great leader of kosen-rufu, had given long and careful thought to the future of our movement, and that this was his way of training us. ​

Mr Toda was keenly aware of the foremost importance of the “time” in Buddhism, and by this well-timed step, he opened a course that would enable his disciples to achieve ongoing progress, victory, and growth. ​

He was especially strict with me: “Daisaku, I have done everything I possibly can for the future. The rest is up to you. Strive your hardest! Win victory after victory!” ​

I feel now just as Mr Toda did then. For now is the time for me to put the finishing touches to my work and leave everything to you!

“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.”​