In the Gosho the "Ho'on Sho" Nichiren says in the second and third paragraphs:
But if one intends to repay these great debts of gratitude, he can hope to do so only if he studies and masters the Buddhist teachings, becoming a person of wisdom. If he does not, he will be like a man who attempts to lead a company of the blind over bridges and across rivers when he himself has sightless eyes. Can a ship steered by someone who cannot even tell the direction of the wind ever carry the traveling merchants to the mountains where treasure lies?
It it precisely because we "owe" our "parents", "teachers" and "sovereign" (the Buddha) that we have a responsibility to "grow up" and "wake up" our lives and "open our eyes." How can we help anyone, if we ourselves are "blind?" Buddhism teaches that we should help others, but the Buddhist model isn't to put out your eyes in the process, or to leave the path for the sake of saving others. Rather, we should stay on the path, and hand down ropes and ladders to others so that they can follow us.
As Nichiren says next:
If one hopes to study and master the Buddhist teachings, then he cannot do so without devoting time to the task. And if he wants to have time to spend on the undertaking, he cannot continue to wait on his parents, his teachers, and his sovereign. Until he attains the road that leads to emancipation, he should not defer to the wishes and feelings of his parents and teachers, no matter how reasonable they may be.
Those who think that following a teacher "slavishly" is being a good disciple to that teacher, are failing to understand the central message of Buddhism. Nichiren is telling us that we should not follow, even him, except in so far as he is following, teaching and transmitting the eternal principles of Buddhism.
To continue reading about the "mentor/disciple" relationship visit this link: mentor.html