Gosho for Kosen Rufu Gongyo August 2006.pdf

The ultimate teaching expounded by all Buddhas reveals that all living
beings possess the life-state of Buddhahood. The Lotus Sutra also clearly
states that Buddhas fulfill the purpose of their appearance in the world by
opening for all living beings the door to the Buddha wisdom lying dormant
in their lives, showing it to them, causing them to awaken to it and guiding
them to enter its path (see The Lotus Sutra, p. 31 )-in other words, enabling
all to attain enlightenment. The essence of this ultimate teaching of the
Buddhas is to help everyone actualize the same great enlightenment that they
have achieved. That is why Buddhism is at all times concerned with raising
disciples who will exert themselves in faith and practice with the same spirit
as the mentor. Buddhism is none other than a philosophy of mentor and
disciple.
And the spirit of this philosophy of mentor and disciple truly comes to
life only when the disciples' hearts blaze with the same bright spiritual flame
evinced by Nichiren, who proclaimed: "Let the gods forsake me. Let all
persecutions assail me. Still 1 will give my life for the sake of the Law"
(WND, 280).In that sense, the Daishonin's focus on "I and my disciples" in
this passage can also be read as a call for the emergence of ranks of capable
successors who will continue his struggle. (From SGI President Ikeda's
Study Lecture Series on "The Opening of the Eyes" [16], March-April 2006
Living Buddhism, pp. 72_73)