In revealing the single path to enlightenment replacing the three kinds of teaching for bodhisattvas, śrāvaka and pratyekabuddha (kaisan kenitsu) in the second chapter on “Expedients” of the Lotus Sūtra, the Buddha briefly expressed the “3,000 in one thought” doctrine held in His bosom. Since it was the first time for the Buddha to reveal the truth, it sounded to His disciples as faint as the voice of a nightingale heard by the half-asleep or the moon rising half way over a mountain covered by a thin cloud. Surprised by the words of the Buddha, Śāripūtra and other disciples called on the gods, dragon-gods, and great bodhisattvas, and together they petitioned the Buddha: “Gods and dragon-gods as numerous as sands of the Ganges River, 80,000 bodhisattvas trying to attain Buddhahood, and Wheel-turning Noble Kings in ten thousands, hundred millions of lands all respectfully held hands together in gasshō and wished to hear the perfect teaching.” In other words they requested Him to preach the doctrine that they had never heard of during His preaching in more than forty years of the pre-Lotus sūtras, expounding four of the Five Flavors and three of the Four Teachings.

Kaimoku-shō, Open Your Eyes to the Lotus Teaching, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 66