QUESTION: Does the passage in the Flower Garland Sūtra that states there is no difference among mind, Buddha, and people attest to the truth of the Mutually Possessed Characteristics of the Ten Realms (Each of the ten realms mutually contains characteristics of the other nine)?

ANSWER: Following this passage in the Flower Garland Sūtra it is preached that the Great Medicine King Tree cannot grow in two places: śrāvaka and pratyekabuddha. According to this, it is clear that the attainment of Buddhahood by the Two Vehicles is not allowed in the Flower Garland Sūtra. The Flower Garland Sūtra appears to express the doctrine of Mutually Possessed Characteristics of the Ten Realms. However, since this sūtra does not actually preach the attainment of Buddhahood by the Two Vehicles, it does not allow the Mutually Possessed Characteristics of the Ten Realms. Moreover, the content of the pre-Lotus sūtras should be evaluated according to the Lotus Sūtra, which states that those who have mastered Hinayāna Buddhism are excluded from attaining Buddhahood. Therefore, it is clear that the Flower Garland Sūtra tells bodhisattvas that there is no attainment of Buddhahood by the Two Vehicles. The same is true with sūtras of the Hōdō period and the Wisdom Sūtra.

Nijō Sabutsu Ji, Obtaining Buddhahood by the Two Vehicles, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Page 226-227