If newspapers are the first draft of history, the World Tribune aims at playing the selfsame role for the kosen-rufu movement in America.
In this, the May 3, 2020, issue of the World Tribune, which celebrates the 60th anniversary of Daisaku Ikeda’s inauguration as the third Soka Gakkai president, the SGI-USA Periodicals Department is honored and delighted to present the following important change to our publications.
Starting from this issue of the World Tribune and the June 2020 issue of Living Buddhism, we will modify any references of SGI President Ikeda to Ikeda Sensei.
While Daisaku Ikeda holds the title of president of the SGI, it does not express fully his true significance to our Buddhist practice as our eternal mentor of faith and of kosen-rufu.
And while there will be many presidents of the organization in the future, the eternal mentors of the Soka Gakkai will always be the three founding Soka Gakkai presidents, Daisaku Ikeda, Josei Toda and Tsunesaburo Makiguchi.
In volume 17 of The New Human Revolution, a young man asks Sensei what members should bear in mind as the Soka Gakkai initiates a multifaceted movement that reaches out to society. The young man had expected Sensei to say that the organization’s first task must be to foster talented individuals in various fields, but instead, his response was, “Following the path of mentor and disciple.”
Sensei elaborates:
Developing a movement that widely spreads the ideals of Buddhism in society is like centrifugal force. The stronger that centrifugal force becomes, the more important it is to have a powerful centripetal force focused on Buddhism. And the core of this centripetal force is the mentor-disciple relationship.
Recently, youth division members have been expressing their resolve to demonstrate their abilities in society, and they are becoming more aware of the importance of social contribution. That’s a wonderful thing. But if you forget the fundamental goal of kosen-rufu and become obsessed with achieving renown and success, you are likely to end up making light of the realm of faith. And, if you start to judge people solely based on their social status and position, and look down on ordinary people, you’ll have defeated the entire purpose.
The path of mentor and disciple is crucial to walking the true path of humanity and Buddhism. (pp. 8–9)
On this significant date, the staff of the Periodicals Department joins members around the country and the world in expressing our deepest gratitude to Sensei for leading 60 years of worldwide kosen-rufu for the peace and happiness of all humanity.
Thank you, Ikeda Sensei!
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