Śākyamuni Buddha Is The Very Father Of All Of Us

As for what should be done to refute the Pure Land teaching, before criticizing what Hōnen says in his Collection of Passages on the Nembutsu and the Original Vows, one should affirm first of all that Śākyamuni Buddha is the very father of all of us by revealing the scriptural statement, “This triple world is My property, where all living beings are My children” in the “Parable” chapter in the second fascicle of the Lotus Sūtra. Which Buddha other than Śākyamuni can also be our parent? More than 3,000 fascicles of Confucianism and Taoism teach loyalty and filial piety in the long run. They also teach that loyalty starts with filial piety. Therefore, Confucianism and Taoism are the first gates to enter Buddhism, the teaching of which is also based on filial piety. In short, though there is a difference in status, those who show piety to their parents are the most honorable in Buddhism as well as non-Buddhist teachings regardless of status.

Hōmon Mōsaru-beki-yō no Koto, The Way to Refute the Evil Teaching, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Biography and Desciples, Volume 5, Page 140-141