According to the Lotus Sūtra, Śākyamuni Buddha has continued since the infinite past to help us and lead us to salvation. Nonetheless, we are reborn as humans, still unable to achieve buddhahood. This means that we are deluded beings who in a past life turned our backs on the Buddha, deviated from the teachings of the Lotus Sūtra, and therefore have been unable to continue on the path to buddhahood. If we are to be messengers of the Tathāgata, we must not look away from our delusions. Rather, aware of our delusions, we must carefully foster our tie in this life with the Lotus Sūtra.