The moon does not shy away from its own reflection, but it cannot be reflected without water. Even though the Buddha hopes to convert the populace, He cannot show the eight major events in His life unless the causative relationship is ripe. It is like Hinayāna sages of śrāvaka, who have listened to the Mahāyāna teaching and ascended the ladder of the bodhisattva way leading to Buddhahood, until they have reached the step of shoji in the distinct teaching or shojū in the perfect teaching. In the end, however, they have to wait for the future for their Buddhahood. It is because they have listened only to the pre-Lotus sūtras and striven for self-control and self-salvation.

Kaimoku-shō, Open Your Eyes to the Lotus Teaching, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 75