[I] myself wonder why gods and deities have not come to help me. They made vows to the Buddha to protect a practicer of the Lotus Sūtra. I would think, therefore, that they should hurriedly come to his aid, calling him a practicer of the Lotus Sūtra, even if they have suspicions about him, and carry out their promise to the Buddha. Yet, none has come to help me. Does that mean that I am not a practicer of the Lotus Sūtra? Since this question is the basis of this writing and of cardinal importance in my life, I will take this up again and again in order to find a definite answer.

Kaimoku-shō, Open Your Eyes to the Lotus Teaching, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 58