It is preached in the “Teacher of the Dharma” chapter of the Lotus Sūtra, fascicle 4: “Suppose a person in search of the Buddha Way comes before me with his hands pressed together in prayer before Me and praises Me for as long as a kalpa (aeon) with numerous verses. Such a person will gain innumerable blessings. A person who glorifies an upholder of this sūtra will gain even more blessings.” This scriptural statement means that the merit of giving alms to a less intelligent practicer of the Lotus Sūtra in the Latter Age of Degeneration who is about to die of starvation is superior to the merit of supporting the Lord Preacher Śākyamuni Buddha for the period of one kalpa.
Matsuno-dono Goshōsoku, Letter to Lord Matsuno, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 7, Followers II, Page 66