The Hinayāna teaching and Mahāyāna teaching are not the same, but both were preached by the same Buddha. The Mahāyāna Buddhism that rejects Hinayāna Buddhism but tries to convert it to Mahāyāna Buddhism is the same as the Mahāyāna Buddhism that rejects provisional Mahāyāna Buddhism but attempts to lead it to the Lotus Sūtra. Although the objects of rejection, Hinayāna and provisional Mahāyāna, are not the same, in both cases the purpose is to lead them to the Lotus Sūtra. Therefore, the Sūtra of Infinite Meaning, the preface to the Lotus Sūtra, disregards all the sūtras preached before the Lotus Sūtra, declaring, “The true intention of the Buddha has not been revealed yet.”

It is also preached in the Lotus Sūtra, chapter 2 on the ” Expedients”: “If the Lotus Sūtra is not expounded after the preaching of other sūtras, the Buddha is accused of being stingy with the dharma. This is without doubt impermissible.” Namely, the Buddha said to Himself, “Born to this world, if I die after preaching sūtras such as the Flower Garland Sūtra and the Wisdom Sūtra without expounding the Lotus Sūtra, it would be as if I am stingy of turning over My property to My beloved children or leaving the sick to die without giving the best medicine to cure their illness.” The Buddha also predicts that He will fall into hell for the sin of not preaching the Lotus Sūtra. It is stated in the Lotus Sūtra, “This is impermissible.” “Impermissible” means going to hell. How much more so will it be for those who attach themselves to pre-Lotus sūtras and refuse to convert themselves to the Lotus Sūtra after hearing it preached. They are like subjects who refuse to follow the orders of the great king or children who are disobedient to parents.

Even if one does not slander the Lotus Sūtra, praising the pre-Lotus sūtras would be the equivalent to slandering the Lotus Sūtra. Grand Master Miao-lê, therefore, states in his Annotations on the Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sūtra, “If one praises the pre-Lotus sūtras, it means that one slanders the Lotus Sūtra (in fascicle 3);” and “Even if one has awaken aspiration for enlightenment, unless one knows the difference between the perfect and imperfect teachings and understands the basic purpose of the Buddha’s vow to save all living beings, one will not be able to escape the sin of slandering the True Dharma even if one hears and practices the dharma in the future (in fascicle 4).”

Kangyō Hachiman-shō, Remonstration with Bodhisattva Hachiman, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 1, Page 274-275