As I receive your offerings so often, it is easy to take them for granted and not recognize how precious they are. This is due to the shallowness of my mind as an ordinary man, isn’t it?

The world is chaotic these days. What is more, as you are working for the reconstruction of the Ōmiya of the Sengen Shrine, I can only imagine how busy your farmers and domestic workers are dealing with a crop failure and keeping up with the farm schedule. Despite all this, you worry about my life in the mountain and sustain the life of the Lotus Sūtra (by sending offerings to Nichiren) like a bird that incubates eggs, a lamplight that is supplemented by additional oil, the rain falling on withered grass, or a mother who breast feeds her hungry baby. In other words, you are supporting Buddhas in the past, present, and future lives, the merit of which in turn will open the eyes of all living beings throughout the universe. The preciousness of your gifts is indeed beyond expression. I am truly grateful.

Ueno-dono Gohenji, Reply to Lord Ueno, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Followers II, Volume 7, Page 22-23