Mentor & Disciple
Disciples understand the greatness of the mentor only to the extent that they themselves grow.
[The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra]
I think that young people should have good seniors and conscientious teachers in whatever endeavor they pursue. This invisible human-to-human bond can be defined as the mentor-disciple or teacher-student relationship.
[Ikeda Daisaku Zenshu (The Complete Works of Daisaku Ikeda), Vol. 22]
One who refuses to seek the advice of others and to whom they no longer say a word will eventually go astray. A mentor helps you to perceive your own weaknesses and confront them with courage. The bond between mentor and disciple empowers us to stay true to the correct path in life until the very end.
[Speech at Divisional Representative Training Session, Nagano, Aug. 23, 2006]
Just as a diamond can only be polished by another diamond, it is only through intense human interaction engaging the entire personality that people can forge themselves, raising themselves up to ever greater heights. It is the relationship between teacher and learner, between mentor and disciple, that makes this possible.
[Commemorative Address at Soka University of America, California, USA, May 22, 2005]
The relationship between mentor and disciple can be likened to that between needle and thread. The mentor is the needle and the disciple is the thread. When sewing, the needle leads the way through the cloth, but in the end it is unnecessary and it is the thread which remains that has value.
[The New Human Revolution, Vol. 9, “Young Phoenixes,” chapter]
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