The merits of Lord Preacher Śākyamuni Buddha have entered the body of Hōren Shōnin and reside there. Also, the body of Hōren Shōnin is the figure of his late father. Therefore, it is like a seed becoming a sapling or a flower becoming a fruit. Although the flower falls, its fruit remains; although the seed is hidden in the fruit, it becomes visible when a sapling appears. That is to say, the merit of Hōren Shōnin for having faith in the Lotus Sūtra will in its entirety become the merit of his late father, ensuring his father of attaining Buddhahood. It is said that when a pine tree grows thick, an oak tree is delighted; when a lawn grass dies, an orchid weeps. Even plants without feelings behave like this, to say nothing of those who have feelings! It is all the more so for those who have a father-son relationship from a previous existence.

Hōren-shō, Letter to Hōren, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 6, Followers I, Page 52