If I, Nichiren, did not speak of this because of my fear of the people, I would be betraying the Buddha’s admonition in the Nirvana Sūtra, “not to hide the teachings of the Buddha even at the cost of life.” If I am to speak it up, I am afraid I shall suffer persecution. But if I do not proclaim this, I will not be pardoned from disobeying the Buddha’s commandment. What should I do? I am in a dilemma!
It is not surprising that the following can be found in the Lotus Sūtra: “Many people hate the Lotus Sūtra with jealousy even in My lifetime. Needless to say, more people will do so after My extinction (chapter 10)” and “Many people in the world would have hated it and few would have believed in it (chapter 14).”
Hōon-jō, Essay on Gratitude, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Pages 8.