We were born from the fluids of our parents. As we emerged from the carnal desire at the root of the three poisons (greed, anger, and ignorance), how can the Buddha dwell within our polluted bodies? Nevertheless, as we reconsider the matter, this is plausible. The pure flowers of the lotus bloom in a swamp. Sandalwood is a fragrant tree, but it grows in the soil. The cherry blossoms adorn the trees in the spring, but they bloom on trees that are nondescript. Yang Kuei-fei, a rare beauty, was born of a woman of low status. Likewise, many things which are inferior in quality sometimes produce things superior to themselves.

Generally speaking, however, the moon rising over a mountain shines on the mountain, evil words spewed through the mouth destroys a person’s body, and the virtuous acts of a person generated by the heart bring happiness. Likewise, in everything the result returns to the source of its cause. Now your earnest desire of making a donation to the Lotus Sūtra at the beginning of the first month of the year will bring you good fortune just as the cherry blossoms bloom on trees that are plain, the flowers of the lotus open in a muddy pond, sandalwood trees on the Himalaya Mountains grow in the snow, and the moon begins to arise over a mountain.

Omonsu-dono Nyōbō Gohenji, A Reply to the Wife of the Lord of Omonsu, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 7, Followers II, Pages 110