Mr. Toda said:" The wheel of history never stop moving forward for even a moment. Youth, open the way forward with courage & enthusiasm! As long as we have you, the youth, the Gakkai will forever secure.
The future is determined by the presence of youth.
I began practicing the Daishonin's Buddhism when I was 19, and I have advanced straight ahead on the path of mentor & disciple for 63 years since then. When Mr. Toda decided to step down as the Soka Gakkai's general director in 1950 [so as not to cause trouble for the organization], I asked Mr. Toda:
"If you resign as general director, who will be my mentor?"
"Though I caused you nothing but hardship, I am your mentor." replied Mr. Toda.
Those words galvanised my determination. I decided that I would see to it that he became the next president of the Soka Gakkai. I was determined to achieve this, regardless of whatever personal sacrifices I'd have to make.
It was a solitary struggles. I went without salary for several months. I couldn't afford to buy new shoes. But my heart was light as I clip-clopped down the street in my wooden sandals. I spent the winter wearing as open-neck shirt. I worked very hard & saw to it that all of Mr. Toda's business debts were repaid.
Days & months passed, a new year came, and then finally on May 3, 1951, with every obstacle overcome, the victorious spring of mentor & disciple arrived, as Mr. Toda was inaugurated as the 2nd president of Soka Gakkai.
This is true oneness of mentor & disciple. And from that moment on, the Soka Gakkai began to grow with tremendous momentum.
(by Daisaku Ikeda, President of SGI from SGI Newsletter No. 7939 dated 23.2.2010)
