INTRODUCTION (6)
Speaking at a public event to begin the national tree-planting event dubbed Green Ghana Day, President Nana Akufo-Addo said the economic impact of forest degradation is alarming.
“Here in Ghana, we’ve lost some 100,000 acres of natural forest in the last decade alone. Our timber industry, which generated jobs for thousands of people, is suffering,” he said. “The odum, wawa, mahogany, sapele and several other wood species of the timber industry are also depleting at an alarming rate.”
Tree roots serve many purposes.
Tree roots anchor the tree in the soil, keeping it straight and stable, and absorb water from the soil. Tree roots also take nutrients and chemicals out of the soil and use them to produce what they need for the tree’s growth, development, and repair. That means,we are all connected.
( Being Rooted Is Very Important in Life)
If a tree is deeply rooted, its branches and leaves will never wither. If the spring is inexhaustible, the stream will never run dry.(‘Flowering and Bearing Grain; WND-1,909)
You all right?’ She shrugged, and then she shook her head and cleared her throat, to make way for the question she want to ask; why is it important to live a life based on the spirit of mentor and Disciple? She asked.
Miss Joselyn smiled lovingly to the class and said; have you ever seen the roots of a tree?
Rarely, right? Roots are usually invisible because they are buried under the soil. By the way, do you know what roots are for?
‘Kofi, yes I know. They absorbing moisture and nutrients through the roots, a tree makes its branches and leaves grow with this nourishment. Therefore, if a tree does not set it roots deep into the soil, it will wither.
Human beings are also the same. As much as food is important for our bodies, so too is nourishment for our hearts. In tough situations, human beings can live strong and resilient lives when their hearts are nourished. Who teaches us how to nourish our hearts? Our mentor!
The mentor is both the root and the source of water. If we lose the root, then we will be shallow. Let me encourage you, “The mentor is the root and the disciple is the flower. The victory of the disciple is the victory of the mentor.”
Because you have your mentor, with his teachings you can grow and grow. Your victory will be her victory too.
If a tree is deeply rooted, its branches and leaves will never wither. If the spring is inexhaustible, the stream will never run dry.
Awaken each of you to your fullest potentials and help you establish rich, fulfilling, genuinely happy lives. At the same time, the broader goal is to elevate the human condition, to create a harmonious and peaceful society that respects the sanctity of each person’s life.
While individual happiness may seem “doable,” some may see creating peace in today’s chaotic and divisive world as too idealistic. Even if possible, such a grand and noble goal might not be achievable for generations.
To accomplish something of enduring value for humankind requires hope, determination and passionate efforts maintained over successive generations far into the future. That is not and will never be easy. But having someone who has dedicated their life to doing so, who can stand as a model of such commitment and action, is extremely helpful. This is why Buddhism stresses the importance of the mentor-disciple relationship.
All great revolutions have begun with the vision and resolve of one or a few people (mentors). Their efforts may have been hindered by harassment, imprisonment or even death. Yet, in revolutions that succeeded, there have always been disciples who inherited and worked hard to realize their mentor’s vision. Ikeda Sensei explains:
Without the mentor-disciple relationship, anything we undertake just ends with our own lifetime.
In contrast, the mentor-disciple relationship enables us to live a life connected to the great flow of humanity, a life like a mighty river, a life that is part of an unending relay race.
Buddhism teaches the oneness of mentor and disciple. This is not a hierarchy, with the mentor above and the disciple below. Mentor and disciple share the same goal and advance together toward it.
Mentors and disciples are like runners in a relay race. They are pressing ahead, passing the baton forward on the shared path of justice, happiness and peace for all humanity. The mentors run ahead to later pass the baton to the disciples. (The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, p. 176
One person standing up to champion truth as long as there is one such individual, people will not become confused.
Everyone will experience great peace of mind. They will gather in support of that just cause, encouraging one another and advancing together.
There is nothing more joyous than this eternal journey of kosen-rufu. There is nothing more exhilarating. (October 2003 Living Buddhism, p. 39)
At this point “ Mentor and Disciple: The Way of the Buddha”; will be our next lesson on Thursday March 16th 2023. Episode (7) Thank you everyone.
