In ancient India, there lived a man named Śaṇavāsa, who was the third of the 24 Buddhist masters entrusted to transmit the Dharma. It is said he was born wearing a robe. This was due to his donation of a robe to the cause of the Buddha Dharma in his previous existence. Therefore, it is preached in the “Teacher of the Dharma” chapter of the Lotus Sūtra, “Wear the gentle mind and forbearance as a robe.”

Nanjō-dono Gohenji, Reply to Lord Nanjō, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 7, Followers II, Pages 18