INTRODUCTION (5)
Joselyn Dumas, featured in ASSUMPTA weekly magazine title: ‘Always with Joselyn’ to introduce her students to important Gosho passages, which we will learn to apply in our lives.
Children Running With Ignorance!” Everyone is looking forward to seeing you grow.
While it is true that the predator preys on prey that is somehow hungry, lonely, or otherwise disempowered.
But Nichiren Daishonin focuses on chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo for the causes of our sufferings to disappear.
In the story, the bond of: “Mentor and Disciple Relationship,” allows us to climb, and raise the branches of ignorance to tap our true potentials as human beings.
It is a symbol of the thinning out of illusions that deceives or misleads us intellectually, and brings out our perception for the actual nature of things to proceed courageously, compassionately, wisely, confidently in life.
As we tear down this fundamental darkness of ignorance, a person understands yet another aspect of the true nature of life and the Self.
Lifting the veil’s ignorance made strong enough to bear life, allows you to see in the drawing of events, people and things, and finally to learn not to take the first impression too seriously but to look beyond them and beyond.
‘If I ask you something, will you be honest with me? ‘ Kofi asked. Miss Joselyn nodded.
Is my perception very good?, Was it? Miss Joselyn smiled at Kofi. Don’t give up your perception.
Adjeley stared at Miss Joselyn. Tell me Adjeley. Why is it that things happen and I don’t understand all the time?
Some of them, well, like the recent months, with the global COVID-19 pandemic, I saw how connected people are with others, witnessing both negative and beautiful aspects of humanity.
Miss Joselyn looked at Adjeley, and reminded her of a letter written by Nichiren Daishonin: ( The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life, 1,217) to one of his disciples asking him to recognize that all people, no matter who they are, experience joys and sufferings in life.
At the same time, all have potential to bring forth the most sublime inner condition a human being can experience.
Really? Adjeley noded. Are mentors and Disciples always born together?
Shall we begin Chapter 2 In this chapter, let’s learn about the spirit of mentor and disciple, which the Soka Gakkai has inherited from Nichiren Daishonin. This Gosho passage teaches us about the relationship between the mentor and the disciple in Buddhism.
Daishonin wrote this letter when he was living in exile on Sado Island. It was a time of great danger in his life, where his very existence was under constant threat. In the middle of all this turbulence, one of his disciples on Sado Island, a man named Sairen-bo, expressed his gratitude to the Daishonin, saying, “Thank you very much for taking me on as your disciple!”
The Daishonin replied, clarifying that this relationship was not new or sudden, “No, no! We are mentors and disciples from the remote past.” It is mentioned in the Lotus Sutra, the highest teaching of the Buddha, that, “Those persons who had heard the Law dwelled here and there in various Buddha lands, constantly reborn in company with their teachers.”
I know it was right, what I did thought; Therefore, the meeting of mentor and disciple is neither incidental nor coincidental. Kofi said.
‘Well, yes; Miss Joselyn said. ‘But the disciple would have made a vow a long time ago in the past that he would be born along with his mentor to contribute to others’ happiness. And that is how they encountered each other in the present.
Adjeley’s eyes widened. Then the bond of mentor and disciple is that deep!
The bond between Toda Sensei and Ikeda Sensei was just the same. It was August 14, 1947. Ikeda Sensei, who was 19 years old, attended a discussion meeting of the Soka Gakkai for the first time. On this occasion, Ikeda Sensei met Toda Sensei and he asked Toda Sensei many questions. Toda Sensei confidently replied to each and every question put to him and encouraged Ikeda Sensei, saying, “Study and courageously practise, as befits a youth.”
Moved by Toda Sensei’s warmth and sincerity, Ikeda Sensei decided to become Toda Sensei’s disciple. After 10 days, on August 24, 1947, Ikeda Sensei joined the Soka Gakkai.
Miss Joselyn: In this opening Nichiren Daishonin cited that: ‘It must be ties of karma from the distant past that have destined you to become my disciple at a time like this. Shakyamuni and Many Treasures certainly realised this truth. The sutra’s statement, “Those persons who had heard the Law dwelled here and there in various Buddha lands, constantly reborn in company with their teachers”, cannot be false in any way.’
‘So, Kofi said: It is not a wonder that you are our teacher, because we have pledged to each other in the past.
That is why it’s important that teachers, Fathers, Mothers, Ministers, MP’s, Employers, leaders, do their utmost best to revive their pledge and dedicate their lives fully to whatever they are doing and do it well, because they are the ones that choose the role they are playing.
You are together as teachers and students, parents and children, Employers and Employees, Ministers and their country men, MP’s and their communities because you pledged to each other to meet and reborn and strive for peaceful Coexistence. It is a very deep profound connection Right?
At this point “Being Rooted is Very Important in Life” will be our next lesson on Thursday 23rd February 2023. Episode (6) Thank you everyone.
