The Buddha is a man of true words, and that is the reason why He is called a holy or great man. Wise men, sages, or non-Buddhist (geten and gedō) hermits must have been so named because they were men of true words. The Buddha is called a great man because He is superior to all these people. This great man, the Buddha declares in the second “Expedients” chapter of the Lotus Sūtra: “Buddhas have come to this world for the sole purpose of carrying out one important task.” He also declares in the Muryō-gi-kyō (Sūtra of Infinite Meaning): “The true teaching has not been revealed for some forty years since My enlightenment.” It is further stated in the second chapter of the Lotus Sūtra: “The truth will be revealed at long last, after preaching for a long time,” and “He will reveal it by casting aside all expedient means.” These words of the Buddha were attested to be true by the Buddha of Many Treasures in the “Appearance of the Stupa of Treasures” chapter of the Lotus Sūtra, and various Buddhas in manifestation (funjin) also stuck out their long and broad tongues confirming the truth of these words in the “Divine Powers of the Buddha” chapter of the Lotus Sūtra. Under the circumstances who could cast doubt on the words in the Lotus Sūtra assuring that such Hinayāna sages (Two Vehicles) as Śāripūtra and Kāśyapa would be the future Flower Light Buddha and Light Buddha?

Kaimoku-shō, Open Your Eyes to the Lotus Teaching, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 38