It is said in a non-Buddhist writing that those who can predict things before they actually take place can be called sages. In Buddhism, those who see life in the past, present, and future are called sages. I made three outstanding predictions. …

It was not I, Nichiren, who made these three important predictions. I believe it was solely the spirit of Śākyamuni Buddha, entering my body, who made them. I am overwhelmed with joy. This is the important 3,000 Existences Contained in One Thought doctrine of the Lotus Sūtra. According to it, a mind of any person is equipped with the seed of Buddhahood, which could grow to blossom in his mind when he upholds the right faith. As a result, his mind could function like that of the Buddha. This is what happened to me, Nichiren, when I made these three predictions. Due to my faith in the Lotus Sūtra, I was able to see things before they actually took place. What is the meaning of “appearances of all phenomena as they are” as stated in the Lotus Sūtra? Since “appearance” is mentioned first among the ten factors of existence, it is the most important among them and the Buddha has come into this world in order to expound it. The appearance of a thing represents its reality. So we can grasp its reality when we see through its appearance clearly, and in turn we can predicts what would happen in the future. This is what was meant by Grand Master Miao-lé when he said that wise men know the cause of phenomena and only snakes know about snakes.

Senji-shō, Selecting the Right time: A Tract by Nichiren, the Buddha’s Disciple, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 1, Page 243-244