August 24 - The day when profound bond of mentor and disciple begins
August 24 is Soka Gakkai “Men’s Division Day.” This is the date when President Ikeda joined the Soka Gakkai in 1947.
On August 14, 1947, a nineteen-year-old man named Daisaku Ikeda was invited to attend a discussion meeting. On that evening, President Toda spoke about Nichiren Daishonin's essay "On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land." He explained that, without solving our fundamental issues based on the philosophy and practice of Nichiren Buddhism, no real construction of happiness can be established. President Toda further shared his conviction that the objective of our kosen-rufu movement is to abolish tragedy and misfortune from the earth. It was in this historical encounter that the young Daisaku Ikeda was moved by President Toda's sincere and direct answers. The young man, who had been searching for a direction in life, was so inspired by this encounter with the man who would be his mentor for life that he recited an impromptu poem at this discussion meeting.
Traveler,
From whence do you come?
And where do you go?
The moon has set,
But the Sun has not yet risen.
In the chaos of darkness before the dawn
Seeking the light,
I advance
To dispel the dark clouds from my mind
To find a great tree unbowed by the tempest
I emerge from the earth.
Ten days later, on August 24, 1947, Daisaku Ikeda received the Gohonzon, joined the Soka Gakkai and began to practice Nichiren Buddhism. August 24 was also the date in 1950 when his mentor, Josei Toda, announced his intention to resign his position as general director of the Soka Gakkai. The young Ikeda resolved on that day that President Toda would be his mentor for life and that he would protect him forever. With the profound significance of the oneness of mentor and disciple, August 24 was designated as “Men’s Division Day” in 1976.
Nobody in this world, except President Ikeda, teaches us by his actions, the correct way of Oneness of Mentor and Disciple. In SGI President Ikeda’s Study Lecture Series, he shares the following:
"In his propagation efforts, the Daishonin did not just teach the Mystic Law through words or theory, but actively demonstrated its power through the example of his own conduct and efforts as one who believes in and practices the Mystic Law. The Daishonin’s Buddhism does not exist apart from his real-life struggles for kosen-rufu. Consequently, it is important for us to practice with the same spirit as the Daishonin, if we are to understand the essence of his teachings."
"The mentor embodies and practices the Mystic Law. The disciples in turn strive to do likewise. Following the mentor’s example and teachings, they continue to take personal action for kosen-rufu. This is the only way forward. The true transmission of Buddhism resides in this living connection between mentor and disciple."
(Translated from the June 2011 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai monthly study journal)
In the Year of Developing a Youthful SGI, a theme designated by President Ikeda for year 2012, what plans and actions has the top leadership developed to lead SSA in actualizing the objectives and goals? While the other SGI countries, like Taiwan Soka Association, are busily plunging themselves in embarking activities to pursue the theme of year 2012, the top leaders indulge themselves in holding meetings after meetings to protect their own breed from the exposure of his scandalous act. The move initiated by the top leadership, has caused the general leadership to feel ambiguity towards Leonard Koh's scandal and the approach adopted by the top leadership. This has led the general populace to shoot a point-blank question as such:
Is the revelation on LK's scandal really the attack of Sansho Shima (3 Obstacles and 4 Devils) as alleged by the top leaders?
To recap on LK's scandal, this incident was sparked off by worried parent(s) whom courageously published LK's Facebook photo in STOMP. The parent was uncontrovertibly perturbed by LK's action of stalking and commenting on his daughter and other young girls' sexy photographs. In addition, LK left traces of visiting adult sexual sites on his Facebook walls. Such acts of LK created a public uproar by the netizen over his perverted behaviours especially of his fetishism on the 'sweet young things'. The whole scandal escalated to an amplitude when it was published in Sin Ming Daily News, Lianghe Zhao Bao, Straits Times and even discussed by ex-educators and called-in parents of a popular Media Corps talk show 'Good morning Singapore'.
For the purpose of impeding further speculations from the frontline leaders and members, the top leaders of SSA held meetings after meetings from SRZ to SR and finally ended in RZCD in Regional level. Prepared script were even read by the senior leaders during discussion meetings to address the issue. Comparing it to the priesthood issue which was erupted in the early 90's, rarely meetings were conducted to defend our mentor, Ikeda Sensei and SGI. Then what is the logical basis behind numerous meetings being conducted, in defence of Leonard Koh? Needless to say, youth chief's scandal is directly linked to the reputation of the top leaders of SSA. The top leaders correlate Leonard Koh's reputation to the Berlin Wall, which once divided Germany, East from West. Once it collapses, the power will return to the people and in this case, to our frontline leaders and members. In consequence, top leaders' exertion on total authoritarian will be fettered by the general masses. Henceforth, to allow someone to disclose the ill repute of Leonard Koh is a threat to topple their authority. Therefore, the top leaders protect this course even at the expense of their lives.
To distract Leonard Koh's scandal from the general masses, the top leaders channel all blames to the senders of the mass email and the flyers which, once again, come too conveniently. Although no one understand the intent of the senders, the contents were not malicious, as depicted by the top. They were replica of the reports, published in newspapers and web-portals. To add spice to the entire matter, the top leaders escalated an individual scandal to the level of organizational crisis, declaring that the organization was under the attack of sansho shima. Through this artificially self-acclaimed crisis, the top leaders aim at funneling the de facto individual scandal of Leonard Koh into an organizational crisis to garner supports from the masses and while hoping that the general masses will eventually forget about the entire scandal. It is another 'dirty' maneuver of the top leadership of SSA.
As taught by our mentor, "Being a leader doesn't make one great or special. What matters is whether a leader burns with a genuine fighting spirit. That is all-important. Pretentious posturing, ambitious scheming and clever maneuvering will all ultimately lead to defeat."
[Value Creation Vol. 1, Pg 7]
Another good example of demonstrating dirty politic played by the top leadership was an incident occurred in SHQ met RHQ meeting, scheduled on a Sunday morning. In that meeting, a Regional HQ MD chief raised the genuine concern of the general leadership whom deemed the top leadership of over-protecting LK. With the purpose of dispelling the doubt of the general leadership, he proposed to invite LK to step forward to prepare his own defense. However, this sincere proposal of a Regional HQ MD chief was met with strong opposition from a top WD leader. She protested by asserting herself that such move of summoning LK for self-defense will direct everyone to fall into the trap set by the sender. She further presented her point forcibly that the intent of the sender was to force LK to be interrogated by the general public. Was it the real intent of the sender, as alleged by the top WD leader or was it another facade, by the top leadership, to prevent LK from public scrutiny?
Since Leonard Koh's scandal erupted, the frontline leaders especially the chapter and the district level, are airing their displeasure in the ways the top leaders handle the issue. They conceive that the top leaders protect their own reputation and interest more than the confidentiality of the members' information and data. The general masses are losing confidence in the top's competence of safeguarding the data of our membership. The main concern of the top leadership is to conduct meetings after meetings to clarify again and again on Leonard's innocence. After all, it is all about protecting their own Berlin wall from crumbling.
In the same study series, President Ikeda further enlightens us, "Unless we establish a solid network of people united in the supreme cause of good that is the happiness of all humanity, then selfishness and division will continue and the world will remain shrouded in the darkness of confusion and chaos."
(Translated from the June 2011 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai monthly study journal)
It is this invisible 'Berlin wall' which resides in the lives of the top leadership that divides the top leadership from the general masses. Indeed this is the function of Sansho Shima our top leadership should reckon with. This is de facto the Sansho Shima that attacks the inner life of the top leadership of SSA. Without conquering this innate darkness which dispel the lives of the top leadership, the 'Berlin wall' will continue to create division within the precious organization built by our mentor. As a result, SSA will forever remain shrouded in the darkness of confusion and chaos.
Sensei continues, "The ultimate power resides within us human beings. We have the power to stand up for the happiness of humanity. We have the power to believe in and create a bright, hope-filled tomorrow."
(Translated from the June 2011 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai monthly study journal)
It is we, the common people, who possess the ultimate power to make changes and create a bright and hope-filled organization that once existed. It should be the innate darkness (Berlin wall) residing in the innermost life of the top leadership that we should topple. Let's continue to focus our prayer, from our strongest daimoku, to dispel this innate darkness from our top leadership so that they will awaken to their mission as genuine disciple of our mentor. Let's continue to pray for the absolute happiness of our top leaders of SSA.
August 24 is Soka Gakkai “Men’s Division Day.” This is the date when President Ikeda joined the Soka Gakkai in 1947.
On August 14, 1947, a nineteen-year-old man named Daisaku Ikeda was invited to attend a discussion meeting. On that evening, President Toda spoke about Nichiren Daishonin's essay "On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land." He explained that, without solving our fundamental issues based on the philosophy and practice of Nichiren Buddhism, no real construction of happiness can be established. President Toda further shared his conviction that the objective of our kosen-rufu movement is to abolish tragedy and misfortune from the earth. It was in this historical encounter that the young Daisaku Ikeda was moved by President Toda's sincere and direct answers. The young man, who had been searching for a direction in life, was so inspired by this encounter with the man who would be his mentor for life that he recited an impromptu poem at this discussion meeting.
Traveler,
From whence do you come?
And where do you go?
The moon has set,
But the Sun has not yet risen.
In the chaos of darkness before the dawn
Seeking the light,
I advance
To dispel the dark clouds from my mind
To find a great tree unbowed by the tempest
I emerge from the earth.
Ten days later, on August 24, 1947, Daisaku Ikeda received the Gohonzon, joined the Soka Gakkai and began to practice Nichiren Buddhism. August 24 was also the date in 1950 when his mentor, Josei Toda, announced his intention to resign his position as general director of the Soka Gakkai. The young Ikeda resolved on that day that President Toda would be his mentor for life and that he would protect him forever. With the profound significance of the oneness of mentor and disciple, August 24 was designated as “Men’s Division Day” in 1976.
Nobody in this world, except President Ikeda, teaches us by his actions, the correct way of Oneness of Mentor and Disciple. In SGI President Ikeda’s Study Lecture Series, he shares the following:
"In his propagation efforts, the Daishonin did not just teach the Mystic Law through words or theory, but actively demonstrated its power through the example of his own conduct and efforts as one who believes in and practices the Mystic Law. The Daishonin’s Buddhism does not exist apart from his real-life struggles for kosen-rufu. Consequently, it is important for us to practice with the same spirit as the Daishonin, if we are to understand the essence of his teachings."
"The mentor embodies and practices the Mystic Law. The disciples in turn strive to do likewise. Following the mentor’s example and teachings, they continue to take personal action for kosen-rufu. This is the only way forward. The true transmission of Buddhism resides in this living connection between mentor and disciple."
(Translated from the June 2011 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai monthly study journal)
In the Year of Developing a Youthful SGI, a theme designated by President Ikeda for year 2012, what plans and actions has the top leadership developed to lead SSA in actualizing the objectives and goals? While the other SGI countries, like Taiwan Soka Association, are busily plunging themselves in embarking activities to pursue the theme of year 2012, the top leaders indulge themselves in holding meetings after meetings to protect their own breed from the exposure of his scandalous act. The move initiated by the top leadership, has caused the general leadership to feel ambiguity towards Leonard Koh's scandal and the approach adopted by the top leadership. This has led the general populace to shoot a point-blank question as such:
Is the revelation on LK's scandal really the attack of Sansho Shima (3 Obstacles and 4 Devils) as alleged by the top leaders?
To recap on LK's scandal, this incident was sparked off by worried parent(s) whom courageously published LK's Facebook photo in STOMP. The parent was uncontrovertibly perturbed by LK's action of stalking and commenting on his daughter and other young girls' sexy photographs. In addition, LK left traces of visiting adult sexual sites on his Facebook walls. Such acts of LK created a public uproar by the netizen over his perverted behaviours especially of his fetishism on the 'sweet young things'. The whole scandal escalated to an amplitude when it was published in Sin Ming Daily News, Lianghe Zhao Bao, Straits Times and even discussed by ex-educators and called-in parents of a popular Media Corps talk show 'Good morning Singapore'.
For the purpose of impeding further speculations from the frontline leaders and members, the top leaders of SSA held meetings after meetings from SRZ to SR and finally ended in RZCD in Regional level. Prepared script were even read by the senior leaders during discussion meetings to address the issue. Comparing it to the priesthood issue which was erupted in the early 90's, rarely meetings were conducted to defend our mentor, Ikeda Sensei and SGI. Then what is the logical basis behind numerous meetings being conducted, in defence of Leonard Koh? Needless to say, youth chief's scandal is directly linked to the reputation of the top leaders of SSA. The top leaders correlate Leonard Koh's reputation to the Berlin Wall, which once divided Germany, East from West. Once it collapses, the power will return to the people and in this case, to our frontline leaders and members. In consequence, top leaders' exertion on total authoritarian will be fettered by the general masses. Henceforth, to allow someone to disclose the ill repute of Leonard Koh is a threat to topple their authority. Therefore, the top leaders protect this course even at the expense of their lives.
To distract Leonard Koh's scandal from the general masses, the top leaders channel all blames to the senders of the mass email and the flyers which, once again, come too conveniently. Although no one understand the intent of the senders, the contents were not malicious, as depicted by the top. They were replica of the reports, published in newspapers and web-portals. To add spice to the entire matter, the top leaders escalated an individual scandal to the level of organizational crisis, declaring that the organization was under the attack of sansho shima. Through this artificially self-acclaimed crisis, the top leaders aim at funneling the de facto individual scandal of Leonard Koh into an organizational crisis to garner supports from the masses and while hoping that the general masses will eventually forget about the entire scandal. It is another 'dirty' maneuver of the top leadership of SSA.
As taught by our mentor, "Being a leader doesn't make one great or special. What matters is whether a leader burns with a genuine fighting spirit. That is all-important. Pretentious posturing, ambitious scheming and clever maneuvering will all ultimately lead to defeat."
[Value Creation Vol. 1, Pg 7]
Another good example of demonstrating dirty politic played by the top leadership was an incident occurred in SHQ met RHQ meeting, scheduled on a Sunday morning. In that meeting, a Regional HQ MD chief raised the genuine concern of the general leadership whom deemed the top leadership of over-protecting LK. With the purpose of dispelling the doubt of the general leadership, he proposed to invite LK to step forward to prepare his own defense. However, this sincere proposal of a Regional HQ MD chief was met with strong opposition from a top WD leader. She protested by asserting herself that such move of summoning LK for self-defense will direct everyone to fall into the trap set by the sender. She further presented her point forcibly that the intent of the sender was to force LK to be interrogated by the general public. Was it the real intent of the sender, as alleged by the top WD leader or was it another facade, by the top leadership, to prevent LK from public scrutiny?
Since Leonard Koh's scandal erupted, the frontline leaders especially the chapter and the district level, are airing their displeasure in the ways the top leaders handle the issue. They conceive that the top leaders protect their own reputation and interest more than the confidentiality of the members' information and data. The general masses are losing confidence in the top's competence of safeguarding the data of our membership. The main concern of the top leadership is to conduct meetings after meetings to clarify again and again on Leonard's innocence. After all, it is all about protecting their own Berlin wall from crumbling.
In the same study series, President Ikeda further enlightens us, "Unless we establish a solid network of people united in the supreme cause of good that is the happiness of all humanity, then selfishness and division will continue and the world will remain shrouded in the darkness of confusion and chaos."
(Translated from the June 2011 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai monthly study journal)
It is this invisible 'Berlin wall' which resides in the lives of the top leadership that divides the top leadership from the general masses. Indeed this is the function of Sansho Shima our top leadership should reckon with. This is de facto the Sansho Shima that attacks the inner life of the top leadership of SSA. Without conquering this innate darkness which dispel the lives of the top leadership, the 'Berlin wall' will continue to create division within the precious organization built by our mentor. As a result, SSA will forever remain shrouded in the darkness of confusion and chaos.
Sensei continues, "The ultimate power resides within us human beings. We have the power to stand up for the happiness of humanity. We have the power to believe in and create a bright, hope-filled tomorrow."
(Translated from the June 2011 issue of the Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai monthly study journal)
It is we, the common people, who possess the ultimate power to make changes and create a bright and hope-filled organization that once existed. It should be the innate darkness (Berlin wall) residing in the innermost life of the top leadership that we should topple. Let's continue to focus our prayer, from our strongest daimoku, to dispel this innate darkness from our top leadership so that they will awaken to their mission as genuine disciple of our mentor. Let's continue to pray for the absolute happiness of our top leaders of SSA.
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