You already resemble a practicer of the Lotus Sūtra just as a monkey resembles a human being or a piece of rice cake resembles the full moon. Although the farmers of Atsuwara only hoped to preserve their own faith, people considered them rebels similar to Taira no Masakado of the Shōhei Period or Abe no Sadatō of the Tenki Period. However, those farmers of Atsuwara simply dedicated their lives to the Lotus Sūtra. The heavens will never consider them similar to those who betrayed their lord. Moreover, you have fallen out of favor with your lord and therefore have been forced to bear a heavy burden of the public expenditure. As a result you yourself do not have a riding horse while your wife and children do not have enough clothing.

Yet under such difficult circumstances, you sympathized with me, a practicer of the Lotus Sūtra, snowed in on a deep mountain and in need of food. You kindly sent one kammon of coins to me. Your offering is as precious as a needy couple who gave away the only piece of garment they shared to an alms-begging monk, or Rita who gave a small amount of barnyard millet in a rice bowl to a pratyekabuddha. It is valuable indeed.

Ueno-dono Gohenji, Reply to Lord Ueno, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Followers II, Volume 7, Page 44