‘Forever in Rhythm With the Mystic Law’

“I wonder if you and I have not been pledged to each other as teacher and disciple from countless kalpas in the past.” (“Reply to Sairen-bo,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 309)

Ikeda Sensei’s Guidance

Although this statement is addressed specifically to Sairen-bo, we can read it to include all of us. Precisely because this is the “defiled age of the Latter Day of the Law,” a time of unprecedented spiritual pollution and confusion, everyone in the depths of his or her life seeks the great teaching of hope of the Mystic Law. In that sense, the Latter Day is the time for the propagation of this ultimate Law that can free people from suffering at the most fundamental level and lead them to genuine happiness.

In Nichiren Buddhism, the promise of mentor and disciple means being born together in the same world in this latter age of the widespread propagation of the Law and chanting and teaching others about Nam-myoho-renge-kyo—the supreme teaching of Buddhism and the ultimate reason for which Buddhas appear in the world. What a noble and glorious promise this is! And we dedicate our lives to propagating the Mystic Law in this way, Nichiren says, as a result of “some bond of karma we share from the past” (WND-1, 309), stretching back immeasurable kalpas ago. What a profound and powerful spiritual bond we share!

Let’s dedicate ourselves to fulfilling the promise of mentor and disciple and advance together for kosen-rufu. If we stay true to this promise from the remote past, we will without a doubt savor a lofty state of life and make our way triumphantly on the path of our mission—forever as Bodhisattvas of the Earth and forever in rhythm with the Mystic Law. (Learning From the Writings: The Hope-filled Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 42)