[T]hose who have a fever can cool off lying beside a great body of cold water, but they will only continue to suffer if they lie by the side of a small body of water. Likewise, those who suffer from the five rebellious sins and sins of slandering the True Dharma and those who have no faith in Buddhism cannot cool the fever of their grave sins by lying beside a small body of water, that is, such sūtras as the Āgama sūtras, the Flower Garland Sūtra, the Sūtra of Meditation on the Buddha of Infinite Life, and the Great Sun Buddha Sūtra. If they lie on the large snow-covered mountain of the Lotus Sūtra, they can definitely cool even the fever of five rebellious sins and sins of slandering the True Dharma, and those of having no faith in Buddhism.

Therefore, the fool must necessarily believe in the Lotus Sūtra. It may be easy to chant titles of any sūtras. Still the difference in merit of chanting by the fool and the wise is as great as between heaven and earth. For instance, a thick rope cannot be cut even by a man of great power, but it can be easily cut even by a powerless man with a small sword. Or, a hard rock cannot be broken even by a powerful man with the blunt sword, but it can be easily broken even by a powerless man with a sharp sword. A medicine can cure sickness without the patients’ knowing its contents, but ordinary food cannot cure sickness. A secret medicine can extend the life of a dying person, but common medicine cannot do it, though it may heal sickness.

Hōon-jō, Essay on Gratitude, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Pages 50-51.