QUESTION: The Nirvana Sūtra states that the number of people who practice the sūtra is as little as soil on a fingernail, while you hold that the number of those who practice the Lotus Sūtra is as rare as the soil on a fingernail. What is the difference?

ANSWER: The Nirvana Sūtra preaches, “In the Lotus Sūtra eight thousand śrāvakas were guaranteed to obtain Buddhahood in the future by the Buddha. This means that the Lotus Sūtra finished reaping the great harvest in autumn to store for winter, leaving only the gleaning to the Nirvana Sūtra.” Grand Master Miao-lê says that the Great Sūtra considers the Lotus Sūtra to be supreme. The Great Sūtra stands for the Nirvana Sūtra, so the Nirvana Sūtra regards the Lotus Sūtra as the supreme teaching. However, the people of the Nirvana School say that the Nirvana Sūtra is superior to the Lotus Sūtra. This is like calling a master a follower, and low-ranking warriors high-ranking warriors. Reading the Nirvana Sūtra means reading the Lotus Sūtra. A sage is content even when he himself is despised so long as his king is respected. Likewise, the Nirvana Sūtra dislikes those who despise the Lotus Sūtra and who admire the Nirvana Sūtra.

Hōon-jō, Essay on Gratitude, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Pages 35.