What sort of age is it, when such sagacious masters risk their lives in seeking and disseminating the dharma? Regarding this, Grand Master T’ien-t’ai teaches in his Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sūtra: “Depending on the era, use an aggressive means of propagation at times and persuasive means at other times.” Grand Master Chang-an, T’ien-t’ai’s disciple, states in his Commentary on the Nirvana Sūtra: “Choose between the aggressive and persuasive means of propagation according to the age; do not stick to one means.” The Lotus Sūtra always preaches the same teaching, but there is a great difference in practicing or spreading its teaching depending on the ability of people and condition of the time. Then, what kind of teaching and in what way should we spread it in the Latter Age of Degeneration in this land of Japan?

Shuju Onfurumai Gosho, Reminiscences: from Tatsunokuchi to Minobu, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Biography and Disciples, Volume 5, Pages 23