Grand Master Miao-lê further interprets this in his Annotations on the Words and Phrases of the Lotus Sūtra, “Those who misunderstand the Lotus Sūtra are convinced that the practicer of the sūtra in the advanced stages gains more merit and looks down on the practicing novice of the Lotus Sūtra, without knowing the great merit of beginning practicers of the Lotus Sūtra. Grand Master T’ien-t’ai, therefore, showed that even though the beginners have not practiced the Lotus Sūtra long enough, their merit is so deep that it can reveal the strength of the sūtra.” This statement of Grand Master Miao-lê describes the ignorant people in the Latter Age of Degeneration who praise the Lotus Sūtra but consider their own capacity inadequate to understand it saying, “It is true that the Lotus Sūtra expounds so profound a doctrine that it is not suitable for us ignorant people.”

Ichidai Shōgyō Tai-I, Outline of All the Holy Teachings of the Buddha, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Page 83