A passage in a sūtra states children are one’s enemies. It is preached in the Meditation on the Mind-base Sūtra, “People in the world commit many sins for the sake of their children and thereby fall into the three evil realms and bear prolonged suffering.” The parents of hawk eagles or eagles raise their young with compassion. Nevertheless, when the young bird matures, they eat their parents in return. A type of owl eats up its mother upon birth. Beasts are like this. Some people are similar to beasts: King Virūḍhaka used force to plunder his father’s throne. King Ajātaśatru killed his own father king. An Lushan in China killed his foster mother. An Ch’ing-sü killed his father An Lushan. An Ch’ing-sü himself was killed by his own son, Shih Shih-ming, who in turn was killed by his own son, Shih Chao-i. Under these circumstances it is only natural to say that one’s children are one’s enemies. Sunakṣatra, son of the Buddha in his previous existence, often tried to murder the Buddha in cooperation with a non-Buddhist named Kutoku.

In contrast, there exists a scriptural passage saying that one’s children are one’s treasure. For instance, it is stated in the Meditation on the Mind-base Sūtra, “When those men and women perform a memorial service, a great light began shining in hell, inspiring devotion in their parents.” Even if it is not stated in any Buddhist sūtra, we can see as much with our very eyes.

Sennichi-ama Gohenji, A Reply to Sennichi-ama, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 7, Followers II, Pages 162