Presently, my only concern is not to succumb to these great difficulties without abandoning the Lotus Sūtra. This has strengthened my faith. Through my experiences thus far, I have personally lived out the prophecies set forth in the sūtra. I am confident that I can weather these ordeals, which is why I have come to live on this mountain. Whether or not each of you lose your faith in the Lotus Sūtra, all of you have helped to save Nichiren’s life at one time or another. How can I think of you as strangers? As before, I, Nichiren, do not care what happens to me. No matter what happens, if I am able to retain my faith and become a Buddha, I have pledged, without exception, to guide each and everyone of you. That all of you are not as versed in Buddhism as is Nichiren, that you are secular, own property, have wives and children, as well as men in your employ must make it difficult for you to persevere in maintaining faith. So being the case, I have long said that you may pretend not to be believers of the Lotus Sūtra. As you all have come to Nichiren’s aid, I will not disown you under any circumstance. I shall never neglect you.

Misawa-shō, A Letter to Lord Misawa of Suruga, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 241