[T]he sin of not believing in and slandering the Lotus Sūtra is explained in detail in the “Parable” chapter. The sin of slandering the upholders of the Lotus Sūtra is preached in the “Teacher of the Dharma” chapter. The merits of those who believe in the Lotus Sūtra is expounded in the “Variety of Merits” and “Merits of Rejoicing at Hearing This Sūtra” chapters. Slandering the dharma means going against the teaching and rejoicing at hearing the dharma means to be obedient to the teaching. Do you think those who understand the preciousness of the Lotus Sūtra even for a moment without quite understanding its meaning are going against the teaching or being obedient to it? Aren’t the merits of ignorant people in the Latter Age of Degeneration holding a religious service in honor of or rejoicing at hearing the Lotus Sūtra even for a moment preached in scriptures? Besides, according to the interpretations of T’ien-t’ai and Miao-lê, it was an act of slandering the True Dharma when Buddhist masters of other schools regarded such Lotus practices as a child building a sand Stupa for play, rejoicing at hearing a verse or phrase of the sūtra, or the person rejoicing at hearing the sūtra equal to the practices for sages and wise people preached in the pre-Lotus sūtras.

Shō Hokke Daimoku-shō, Treastise on Chanting the Daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Faith and Practice, Volume 4, Page 7