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Suggested Study Material for September 2008

SGI-USA Men’s Division Monthly Meetings
Suggested Study Material for September 2008

We continue this month with material drawn from President Ikeda’s new lecture series on “The Hope-Filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin” in the September/October issue (Volume 12, no. 5.)  We want to strongly encourage all Men’s Division members to subscribe to Living Buddhism and read the complete material there, as well as to attend and participate actively in the 4-divisional study meetings in your local organization.

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Lecture on "Reply to Sairen-bo "
by SGI President Ikeda

Striving With a Shared Commitment for Kosen-rufu

PASSAGES FROM THE WRITINGS OF NICHIREN

When I consider these passages of the sutra and the commentaries, I wonder if you and I have not pledged to each other as teacher and disciple from countless kalpas in the past.  You and I have been born together in this defiled age of the Latter Day of the Law, in the country of Japan in the southern continent of Jambudvipa, and with the utmost reverence we chant with our mouth Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, the ultimate reason for which the Buddhas appear in the world; we believe in it in our hearts, embrace it with our bodies, and delight in it with our hands.  Has all of this not come about solely because of some bond of karma we share from the past?

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Although I, Nichiren, am not a man of wisdom, the devil king of the sixth heaven has attempted to take possession of my body.  But I have for some time been taking such great care that he now no longer comes near me.  Therefore, because the power of the heavenly devil is ineffectual against me, he instead possesses the ruler and his high officials, or foolish priests such as Ryokan, and causes them to hate me.

Be that as it may, one should understand that, at present, when it comes to teachers, there is a difference between correct teachers and erroneous teachers, between good teachers and bad teachers.  One should shun those who are erroneous or evil, and associate with those who are correct and good.  (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 309-310)

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EXCERPTS  FROM THE LECTURE
The Eternal Bonds of Mentor and Disciple
(LB 12/5, p. 47)

The bonds of mentor and disciple in Buddhism are eternal, extending across the three existences – past, present and future.  This is because both mentor and disciple dedicate their lives to the original wish deep in their hearts to widely propagate the Mystic Law for the benefit of all people.  This original wish is the great desire or vow of the Buddha, and it serves as the driving force behind the altruistic practice of bodhisattvas.  Mentor and disciple in Buddhism are comrades in a shared struggle, who devote themselves to fulfilling their vow to guide all humanity to happiness.

(LB 12/5, p. 48-9)

By practicing Buddhism as taught by a teacher who has overcome immense persecution and who embodies the Law, we can experience the true power of the Buddha and power of the Law in our own lives.  Disciples who could recognize what a priceless treasure this teaching is appeared on Sado, Nichiren’s place of exile.

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The Path of a Disciple

(LB 12/5, p. 50)

The path of a disciple is a great path of unflagging seeking spirit and unceasing gratitude.  Walking this path throughout one’s life is the ideal of human existence as taught in Buddhism.  To deviate from it can lead one to fall into a misguided path of arrogance and ingratitude.

(LB 12/5, p. 51)

In Buddhism, the teacher or mentor represents an exemplary role model for how we should live our lives.  To place our faith in a correct teacher means practicing exactly as that person teaches.  By doing so, we can break out of our narrow, self-limiting life-state to live a more profound and expansive existence.

In any field of endeavor, people of the highest caliber are sure to have, in some form or another, a teacher or mentor who serves as a role model or inspiration for them; they have invariably walked the path of a student or disciple.

It is the way of mentors to wish for the success of their disciples and to hold each of them dear.  It is the way of mentors to give their all to imparting everything they know to their disciples.  The relationship between mentor and disciple constitutes an infinitely beautiful realm of the heart and a lofty spiritual bond.

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True "Good Teachers"

(LB 12/5, p. 55)

There is no greater misfortune than that of supporting and following erroneous or misguided leaders.  Nichiren Daishonin tells us that when it comes to teachers, there are correct teachers and erroneous teachers, and he says that we need the ability to distinguish among them….

Erroneous and evil teachers are the ultimate negative influences or evil friends.  Such individuals are the embodiment of what the sutras call “worms within the lion’s body” influences that destroy Buddhism from within and bring misery to others.  Nichiren further explains that erroneous and evil teachers arise because they are “possessed by evil demons” (see LS, 194).  In other words, the devil king of the sixth heaven – the heavenly devil – enters their bodies, causing them to become deranged.  References to the devil king of the sixth heaven entering a person’s body simply mean that their own fundamental darkness has been activated.

Fundamental darkness refers to fundamental ignorance of the Law, which manifests as not believing in, doubting and disrespecting the Law.  This darkness or negativity is activated in our lives when our faith becomes clouded, our practice weakens, and we cease to feel power of the Buddha and power of the Law – on account of such things as, for example, becoming attached to erroneous teachings or obsessed with a selfish desire for fame and fortune.

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Suggested Discussion Questions

1. How can we approach the mentor and disciple relationship as a “comrade in a shared struggle” as opposed to as a “follower?” In your experience, how does this help you “experience the true power of the Buddha and power of the Law?”

2. President Ikeda stresses “unflagging seeking spirit and unceasing gratitude” as the keys to the path of a disciple.  How can we better put this into practice ourselves?

3. How do we ensure victory over our own fundamental darkness? How does this enable us to discern a good teacher from an evil teacher?