In chapter 20 the Buddha addresses the bodhisattva Great Power Obtained and relates to him the story of the bodhisattva Never Despise, thereby pointing out the retribution of those who slander practitioners of the Lotus Sutra and the reward of those who preserve the true Dharma. In the past, after the death of the Buddha of that age, in a time when the Law had deteriorated and was only an imitation of the Truth, monks of the utmost arrogance held authority. A bodhisattva, named Never Despise, appeared and saluted all he met, whether ordained or lay, with the words, “I deeply revere you. I dare not slight and contemn you. Wherefore? [Because] you all walk in the bodhisattva-way and are to become buddhas” (MFH, 50c; TLS, p. 290). Those who were not pure of mind became irritated at his behavior, and reviled and abused him, and beat him with clubs and sticks, and threw potsherds and stones at him. Even so, he still saluted them and said, “I dare not slight you.” When his death drew near, he heard in the sky the verses of the Lotus Sutra and was able to receive and keep it, gaining the merits of the purity of the sense-organs. As a result, he was able to prolong his life for two hundred myriad kotis of nayutas (each equal to ten thousand kotis) of years, preaching the Lotus Sutra to the people, and converting the arrogant monks.

The story illustrates the principle of reversing a person’s belief by refuting his heretical views. Even being abused and reviled by people is itself a forging of links with Buddhism, planting the seed of future enlightenment. Nichiren based his method of shakubuku (refuting heretical views) upon this chapter.