QUESTION: Is it possible for us, ordinary people of this latter age of decadence, to grasp such a difficult teaching?

ANSWER: Since you may not be convinced by what I say, let me cite the ninety-third section of Nāgārjuna’s Great Wisdom Discourse: “Contrary to a general belief that an arhat who has attained control of all his evil passions cannot become a Buddha, that he does in fact attain Buddhahood can only be understood by the Buddha. It is well that Buddhist academics discuss this point; however, this is not something that can be proven through polemics. This fruitless discussion need not be necessary. This truth will make itself apparent if and when one attains Buddhahood. Those who have not attained enlightenment need not be pressed to debate a matter as whether one has attained Buddhahood or not and leave that to faith.” This means that the deeper meanings of the Lotus Sūtra (sōtai seed doctrine and immediate attainment of Buddhahood) are not understood even by those bodhisattvas of pre-Lotus sūtras, who believe in the distinct teaching have managed to rid themselves of the eleven forms of ignorance; and such great bodhisattvas of perfect teaching as Samantabhadra and Mañjuśrī, who have torn themselves away from the forty-one types of ignorance. Needless to say, it is much more perplexing for the three vehicles (śrāvaka, pratyekabuddha and bodhisattva) who are associated with the more rudimentary teachings of the piṭaka and common, or for the unenlightened of the latter age. Such is Nāgārjuna’s thesis.

Shimon Butsujō-gi, Listening to the Once Buddha Vehicle Teachings for the First Time, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 248-249