The pre-Lotus sūtras preach that Devadatta will never be able to attain Buddhahood. If this is true, the Lotus Sūtra is a great lie. If the Lotus Sūtra that allows Devadatta to become a Buddha, is true, the various pre-Lotus sūtras are, in turn, considered committing the sin of telling a lie. The Lotus Sūtra guarantees Devadatta to be Heavenly King Buddha although he committed not only the three rebellious sins but also innumerable other serious crimes. There is, thus, no doubt that evil people who committed one or two rebellious sins can attain Buddhahood. It is just as when the earth is turned over, the vegetation growing there is also turned over, and a man who is able to break a solid stone can easily cut off the soft grass. That is why this sūtra is called “myō (wonderful).”

Hokke Daimoku Shō, Treatise on the Daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4, Page 42-43