Jeffrey Ourvan author of The Star Spangled Buddhist and director of the Toda Institute says,

"Trying to learn Buddhism without a teacher is, perhaps, like trying to learn to play the piano well on one’s own."

Response: Who should one take as teacher? Mr. Ourvan has taken Daisaku Ikeda as teacher. This is a serious mistake. Both Shakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren took the Law as their teacher. Only those who take the Law as teacher are qualified to be Buddhist teachers. Having encountered the Three Obstacles and Four Devils is proof that the teacher has taken the Law as teacher. Only the Gohonzon, Shakyamuni Buddha, and Nichiren Daishonin are worthy of being called Buddhist teachers.