Mentor – Disciple relationship in the Lotus Sutra

In historical terms, the teachings of the Lotus Sutra were recorded by the Buddha’s followers starting with the phrase “This is What I Heard".  Ikeda explains that :

”The essence of ‘This is what I heard’ is the oneness of mentor and disciple, and that is the quintessence of the transmission of Buddhism. The drama of the oneness of mentor and disciple, in which there is a mutual resonance and response to save all living beings is epitomised in this expression, ‘This is what I heard.’”.

The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra vol 1 p. 74.

The Lotus Sutra emphasises on the benefit which a disciple can get from closely following the mentor or teacher of Buddhism, is referred to in the last four verses of Chapter 10 : “The Teacher of the Law” (page 169)

“If one stays close to the teachers of the Law he will speedily gain the bodhisattva way. By following and learning from these teachers he will see Buddhas as numerous as the Ganges sands”

The passage from the Teacher of the Law chapter of the Lotus Sutra, which instructs disciples to “stay close’ or “closely follow” the mentor -  does not necessarily mean to be in the same “spatial proximity” or the same “time frame” as the mentor.

For example, in the case of the Lotus Sutra, it is apparent that the disciples - who recorded its text - were not physically close to their mentor: Shakyamuni Buddha himself, neither in time nor in place.

What inspired people to regard Shakyamuni as their mentor was his wisdom, compassion and courage - through which he could endure immense hardships to teach his humanistic philosophy of Buddhism.

It is the behaviour as a human being, which inspires ordinary people to regard the mentor as their role model:

“The purpose of the appearance in this world of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lord of teachings, lies in his behaviour as a human being”. WND 852

Shakyamuni sets the goal of mentor-disciple in Chapter 22 of the Lotus Sutra being the Entrustment of Propagation:

“The ‘Entrustment‘ chapter is a chapter of transmission. Transmission’ here indicates succession, and succession defines the relationship of mentor and disciple.

The Entrustment chapter can be called ‘The Mentor and Disciple Chapter’. It is the mentor and disciple of kosenrufu, for accomplishing widespread propagation of the law in the Latter Day”. The Wisdom of the L.S.  vol.5 p. 233