When a man dies, his spirit leaves the body, allowing it to be occupied by demons, who destroy the future generations. This is the so-called hungry demon devouring itself. When a wise man praises the Lotus Sūtra and inspires the spirit into his remains, the spirit of the dead becomes the Dharma Body though his corpse remains human. This is the doctrine of “recognizing the immutable reality of all phenomena while alive.”

Mokue Nizō Kaigen no Koto, Opening the Eyes of Buddhist Images, Wooden Statues or Portraits, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4, Page 91-92