For the last 20 years or so beginning in the summer of the 5th year of the Kenchō Era (1253), I alone have chanted the daimoku as earnestly as people these days chant the nembutsu. Everyone ridiculed me as a result. In the end they maligned me, beat me, attacked me with a sword, exiled me, and even tried to behead me. Such persecutions as these did not just occur once or twice, or for a day or two, or a month or two, or a year or two, but were unremitting and unbearable indeed. However, when I open the Lotus Sūtra, it is preached that King Suzudan allowed his body to be Asita’s seat for 1,000 years and served him. Never Despising Bodhisattva did not cease to spread the teaching of the Lotus Sūtra for many years all the while he was abused and spoken ill of, attacked by swords and sticks, and had stones and pieces of tiles thrown at him. Medicine King Bodhisattva once burned his own body for 1,200 years, and burned his elbow as a light to the Buddha for as long as 72,000 years. Whenever I read these scriptural statements, I am encouraged not disheartened.

Matsuno-dono Goshōsoku, Letter to Lord Matsuno, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 7, Followers II, Page 65-66