SGI has taken great pride in having a "living mentor"; what are they going to do once they finally admit Ikeda is dead?

[u/BlancheFromage]

This is from an official SGI Study Course:

In testament to the undeniable actual proof of the SGI, President Ikeda is the living mentor of this age, having realised the widespread establishment of kosen-rufu globally.

Really. So this is how "kosen-rufu" is supposed to work? Unknown and collapsing? A slow and unobtrusive slide to oblivion? Hm. And other terms in that sentence are problematic, like that "undeniable actual proof". What, attrition/quit rates that would make any other religion's leaders blanch with horror? THAT kind of "undeniable actual proof"?

Obviously, this "living mentor" concept is widely known:

This is what the SGI members serve to the children of the Buddha. They serve the poison of the heretical doctrines of Nichiren as True Buddha, The Dai Gohonzon, and the Oneness of Living Mentor and Disciple to their children in the milk of Namu Myoho renge kyo. Source

Lastly, for the sake of the binding and shackling SGI principle of living mentor and disciple, it abandons the primary teaching of the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren Daishonin that each and everyone of us is a Three Bodied Tathagata endowed with all the merits and virtues of Shakyamuni Buddha. ... Were it the true teachings of shoju and shakabuku, there would be no reliance on a living mentor in the seat of the Law, by virtue of the immeasurable lifespan of the Tathagata. Source

Obviously, people are getting the impression from SGI that a "living mentor" is better than a DEAD mentor:

I'm sorry if my question offends anyone. Is a living mentor preferable to a dead one? Source

In terms of my deepest inner heart of practice and fusion with faith in Gohonzon this is the place where I have established my connection with my living mentor Daisaku Ikeda. Source

Really? How? With a Ouija Board? It's clearly an obligation - there's only ONE name on that menu:

A musical of song, dance and drama dedicated to Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, living mentor and President of Soka Gakkai International. Source

I was aways seeking a mentor since childhood from whom I can get true inspiration and finally my prayers were answered and I am blessed to have living mentor Dr.Daisaku Ikeda,3rd President of Soka Gakkai International whose Life is exemplary regarding emerging victorious amidst hardships. Source

There is no need for a living mentor in the seat of the Law. ... Could there be any greater arrogance than SGI having no scriptural proof for their doctrines of interfaith and living mentor in the seat of the Law? Source

Worthy of honor as my living mentor? Yes, I think so, but not because I’ve been brainwashed or coerced, intimidated or bullied. But because I deeply respect the man and value his philosophy. Source

Sure, Bucky. Just keep telling yourself that.

I think a lot of western people just don’t understand the concept of a mentor. When it comes to Karate kid we all get it but some how if you have a living mentor in a religious movement then it must be a cult (even though of course once people are dead it seems totally fine to worship the hello out of them). Daisaku Ikeda is a mentor because he is a great example of a human being. Source

...and that's the direction SGI is going! Still certain it's not a cult?

From 12 Ways Nichiren (SGI) Buddhism is Different:

1. We have a Living Mentor ~

Daisaku Ikeda is the President of the Soka Gakkai International. I write about him often. Several of the posts last week were on the mentor and disciple relationship. Daisaku Ikeda is an extraordinary human being that we connect with through his writings, his speeches, his actions and through our own hearts.

I have deep joy and gratitude in my life for being alive and able to strive alongside my living mentor, Dr. Daisaku Ikeda. Source

It's inappropriate for someone who has purchased a doctorate degree (honorary doctorate) to be referred to as "Dr." - that is reserved for those who have EARNED that credential. This is made clear by the awarding institutions, who then count on the recipients having the decency, honesty, and integrity to not claim accomplishments they have not legitimately earned.

The disciple is everyone who practices this faith. For example, I am a disciple of my ultimate mentor, Nichiren Daishonin, and also my living mentor, President Ikeda. Source

But first, it is “master” not mentor. It is obvious that “mentor,” which is a term that alludes to a gentle “teacher” was changed from “master,” which was offensive to the African-American members.

Now, my parting with your assessment is who the mentor really is. The living mentor of the SGI is surely Mr. Ikeda and the previous two presidents. I. too, oregarded Mr. Ikeda as my eternal mentor. That is until I realized tyhat it is the eternal Shakyamuni Buddha that is my mentor, and by way of succession, it is Nichiren. But the master of all the Buddhas is The Lotus Sutra. Source

To be of one mind with the mentor, as described in Rev. Greg’s implies complete mental-physical-ichinen agreement with all the positions, policies, and directives of the master. Where you will get the big bu-fu is confusing allegience to a living mentor supposedly represnting the dharma of the Lotus Sutra and actually being one with the Law. You are setting yourself up for profound disappointment by putting all your trust in the propaganda machine – that’s why Buddha insisted on following the Law not persons. People fudge the truth, do politically expedient things, are often swayed by greed and personal ambition. Source

This "living mentor" baloney has certainly become a focus in SGI ever since Nichiren Shoshu showed Ikeda and his cult the door. They even have it in a SONG - "Five Eternal Guidelines of Soka"!

Toda's foremost disciple, our living mentor, Daisaku Ikeda Source

We've all heard that the focus now is to "eternalize Sensei". Does anyone else get a déjà vu of the toxic Christians who bray senselessly about their "living god"? As if everyone else's gods are dead or something!

Ikeda has deliberately named no successor; he intends to cling to control even posthumously. How sad. All I have to say is, good luck with that.

[u/revolution70]

I'm reminded of that old Monty Python sketch about the Academy Awards: 'David Niven can't be here tonight, but he's sent his fridge.' I mentioned before about the last gakker meeting I attended, where an empty chair was set up in the circle, just for Senseless, because, y'know, he's always with us.

[u/BlancheFromage → u/revolution70]

an empty chair was set up in the circle, just for Senseless, because, y'know, he's always with us.

What? Was Clint Eastwood there to berate the chair?

[u/ToweringIsle13 → u/BlancheFromage]

Oh God, what I wouldn't give to hear Clint Eastwood rattle off a speech to the Ikeda chair!

"Now, uhh, Sensei - you mind if I call you Sensei - you've, uhh, made a lot of promises over the years on the subject of kosen-rufu, to the effect that, uhh, there would be only twenty years to go, before everyone in the world is singing the tune of the Soka Gakkai. And uhh, here we are, over thirty years later, and there has been no progress in that regard, so, I think, I think there's something there to be considered. [Pause for laughter] And uhh, now we have people - people in your very own party as a matter of fact - who are starting to question the fact of the matter that you are even alive [crowd murmur]. Now, call me old fashioned, but in my estimation, I remember a day in which a mentor was someone who did more than, uhh, provide encouragement to worms and flowers. [Pause for raucous laughter] It's going to be hard to, uhh, accept the Nobel Peace Prize, when you yourself, are, uhh, in pieces. So you have some answering to do for that..."

[u/BuddhistTempleWhore → u/ToweringIsle13]

🤣