Saichō justified several of his proposals by referring to predictions of the decline of Buddhism. He argued that the changed circumstances of the current age required new forms of Buddhism. In proposing that Mañjuśrī should replace Piṇḍola as elder (jōza) in the dining halls, Saichō noted that:

At the end of the Period of the Imitated Dharma (zōmatsu), the four groups violate the Hinayāna and Mahāyāna precepts and turn against the Buddha’s teachings. The Hinayāna jōza (Piṇḍola) does not have enough power (to accomplish such feats as vanquishing the karmic consequences of wrongdoings). If you do not install Mañjuśrī as jōza in the dining halls, then you ignore the Dharma in India and go against the laws of China. To whom will you turn to escape the consequences of your violations of the precepts? How will you escape the fierce flames of Avici Hell?”

Elsewhere Saichō argued that serious monks should withdraw to the mountains to meditate. After quoting a passage from the Fa mieh chin Ching, which described the complete degradation of Buddhism,
Saichō asked, “If it is known that it is the time (of the decline of Buddhism), who would not go to the mountains (in order to practice in peace)?”
Saichō: The Establishment of the Japanese Tendai School, p173