Only the Lotus Sūtra is the unsurpassed one that subordinates all the sūtras which had been preached, are being preached, and be preached.” However, Buddhist masters before the time of Grand Master T’ien-t’ai interpreted that all Mahāyāna sūtras, including the Lotus Sūtra, confront Hinayāna sūtras. This is as if they did not know how to distinguish the king from his retainer, mixing up the superior with the inferior. These masters did not reveal the True Dharma, but rather committed an evil deed of foolishness.

Daigaku Saburō-dono, A Letter to Lord Daigaku Saburō, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Pages 211.