The Lotus Sūtra has two subtleties. Grand Master T’ien-t’ai said in his Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sūtra, “The Lotus Sūtra explains the two subtleties.” They are (1) relative subtlety (sōdaimyō) and (2) absolute subtlety (zetsudaimyō). The relative subtlety means to compare the Lotus Sūtra with the various sūtras expounded in the first four periods of Flower Garland, Āgama, Expanded, and Wisdom, disparaging those various sūtras as “pre-Lotus.” The pre-Lotus sūtras are called “tōbun (for a while)” meaning that they only assess their own sūtras, and therefore, are nothing but expedients. On the other hand, the Lotus Sūtra is called “kasetsu (across a fence)” meaning that the Lotus Sūtra is the supreme teaching revealing the true intent of the Buddha, which He tried to expound throughout His lifetime. The true purpose of the absolute subtlety is to reveal that all the holy teachings of the Buddha are for the purpose of preaching the Lotus Sūtra. Two things concerning this are mentioned in the Lotus Sūtra: one is that provisional teachings are revealed to show the single path to enlightenment, and the other is the revealing of the single path to enlightenment. For example the “open, show, perceive and enter” passage in the second chapter, “Expedients,” of the Lotus Sūtra explaining why Buddhas appeared in this world, or the passage in the same chapter saying, “All have attained Buddhahood;” and the fact that each of the 69,384 letters of the Lotus Sūtra consisting of eight fascicles is equipped with subtlety are all “revealing the single path to Buddhahood.” Those who study Buddhism without knowing the subtle utility of the Lotus Sūtra will only gain the expedient merits of pre-Lotus sūtras.

Ichidai Shōgyō Tai-I, Outline of All the Holy Teachings of the Buddha, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Page 92-93

Grand Master T’ien-t’ai interprets in his Mo-ho chih-kuan (Great Concentration and Insight): “Those without faith in the Lotus Sūtra consider it to be only for sages and to be too difficult for ignorant people like themselves. Those without wisdom become self-conceited considering themselves equal to the Buddha.”

Kaimoku-shō, Open Your Eyes to the Lotus Teaching, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 96

I, Nichiren, am a laughingstock, but how can it be said that the Lotus Sūtra, which I believe in, is also a laughingstock? For instance, even if a purse emits a foul odor, the gold in the purse is beautiful. Even if a pond it stagnant and filthy, the lotus flowers that bloom in the pond are pristine. Likewise, though I am the most insignificant being in Japan, the Lotus Sūtra, which I put faith in, is the supreme of all the Buddhist scriptures.

A sensible person who wants to get hold of gold should not discard it just because the purse containing the gold reeks. If one loves the lotus flower, one should not have disdain for the pond where the lotus plant grows. If I, though insignificant, become a Buddha, it proves the great power of the Lotus Sūtra. Accordingly, if the last moment of my life is not positive, I will hurt the reputation of the Lotus Sūtra. If the last moment of my life happens to be negative, I will not only be viewed as evil by everyone in the world but I will also become a very evil person who ruins the name of the Lotus Sūtra.

Nishiyama-dono Goke-ama Gozen Gohenji, A Response to My Lady, the Nun Widow of Lord Nishiyama, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 7, Followers II, Pages 101

Worms that live in trees eat timber, and fish that live in water drink water. It is said that orchids sigh when a lawn dies, and that an oak is pleased when a pine tree prospers. Even plants are like this. An imaginary bird called hiyoku has two heads in one body with two mouths feeding the single body. Imaginary fish called himoku have only one eye each thus the male and female stay together without separation throughout life. Thus, should be the relationship between a husband and wife. In order to accomplish the faith in the Lotus Sūtra, the wife should not regret being with her husband, even if the result is death. If the wife is of one mind with her husband and struggles with him, she will succeed the dragon girl who attained Buddhahood in the “Devadatta” chapter of the Lotus Sūtra and become an example of attaining Buddhahood by women in the Latter Age of Degeneration.

Kyōdai-shō, A Letter to the Ikegami Brothers, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 6, Followers I, Page 84

It is stated in a sūtra that Śākyamuni Buddha called such heavenly beings as the King of the Brahma Heaven, Indra, the sun, the moon, the Four Heavenly Kings, and dragons of this Sahā World as well as other worlds together and had them make written pledges in front of Himself, the Buddha of Many Treasures, and various Buddhas from other worlds throughout the universe, stating:

“In the Ages of the True, Semblance, and Latter Dharmas after the passing of Śākyamuni Buddha, evil spirits such as the king of devils in the Sixth Heaven and devils will enter the bodies of the king and his subjects, causing trouble to disciples of the Buddha regardless of whether or not they observe precepts or break them. If those heavenly beings who made written pledges to Buddhas see or hear about the troubled Buddha’s disciples but do nothing to punish the king and his subjects, the King of the Brahma Heaven and Indra will inevitably send a messenger to the Four Heavenly Kings ordering punishment for them. In case the community deities do not punish the king and his subjects who trouble Buddha’s disciples, such deities will be dealt with by the King of the Brahma Heaven, Indra and the Four Heavenly Kings. The same will be true with the King of the Brahma Heaven and Indra. The King of the Brahma Heaven, Indra and the Four Heavenly Kings in other worlds will never fail to punish their counterparts in this world, who do not carry out their promised duty. If they don’t, they will be unable to see Buddhas in the past, present and future lives, lose the ranks of the King of the Brahma Heaven and Indra forever, and fall into the Hell of Incessant Suffering.”

Kangyō Hachiman-shō, Remonstration with Bodhisattva Hachiman, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 1, Page 261-262

If you pass away before I, call yourself a disciple of Nichiren, the foremost practicer of the Lotus Sūtra in Japan, in front of the King of the Brahman Heaven, Indra, the Four Great Heavenly Kings, King Yama, and so forth. They will not treat you carelessly.

Nanjō Hyōe Shichirō-dono Gosho, A Letter to Lord Nanjō Hyōe Shichirō, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Pages 146.

Two different kinds of hell exist beneath the earth. The first is a hell of flame; the fire of this hell is like molten iron, which ignites charcoal, burns fields, and consumes all things. To burn sinners in such a fire is simple, exactly like throwing paper or wood chips into a bonfire. Those who commit arson-robbery, who attack their enemies with fire, or women whose hearts burn with jealousy fall into this flaming hell and must suffer the intense heat.

The second kind of hell is a hell of ice. There are eight hells of ice as explained by the Nirvana Sutra: “Eight hells of ice and cold exist. They are the Ahaha Hell, the Atata Hell, the Arara Hell, the Ababa Hell, the Ubara Hell, the Hazuma Hell, the Kumozu Hell, and the Fundari Hell.” The names of the eight hells of ice and cold arise from sinners’ different screams of pain and their different skin colors caused by the cold. The bitter cold of these hells is like the north wind of Lake Suwa in Shinano Province (Nagano Prefecture) or on Mount Tateyama in Etchū Province (Toyama Prefecture). Imagine the intense cold which causes the birds atop Mount Hakusan of Kaga Province (Ishikawa Prefecture) to huddle with their wings folded. Imagine the lonely cold of the widow’s feet. Imagine the desperate cold of the pheasant, forced down and surrounded by snow. Having to endure the cold, the sinners shiver with their chins chattering, and they say, “ahaha, atata, arara.” The cold causes the sinners’ skins to turn red, a condition called “red lotus” or “great red lotus.”

Those who fall into this hell are those who steal clothes, or who warm themselves while their parents or teachers suffer from the cold in this life.

Otā-dono Nyōbō Go-henji, A Response to the Wife of Lord, Nyonin Gosho, Letters Addressed to Female Followers, Page 144-146

Filial devotion preached in Confucianism is limited to this life. Confucian sages and wise men exist in name only because they do not help parents in their future lives. Non-Buddhist religions in India know of the past as well as the future, but they do not know how to help parents. Only Buddhism is worthy of being the way of sages and wise men, as it helps parents in future lives. However, both the Mahāyāna and Hinayāna sūtras expounded before the Lotus Sūtra preach Buddhahood in name only, without substance. Therefore the practicers of such sūtras will not be able to obtain Buddhahood even for themselves, not to speak of helping parents obtain Buddhahood. Now coming to the Lotus Sūtra, when the enlightenment of women was revealed, the enlightenment of mothers was realized; and when a man as wicked as Devadatta could attain Buddhahood, the enlightenment of fathers was realized. These are the two proclamations of the Buddha in the “Devadatta” chapter, and this is the reason why the Lotus Sūtra is the sūtra of the filial way among all the Buddhist scriptures.

Kaimoku-shō, Open Your Eyes to the Lotus Teaching, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 91

I understand that you are pregnant and that you’d like to have a charm for an easy childbirth. I have chosen one for you from among those charms which had been transmitted to me. Please have firm faith in the Buddha. Even a panacea would not do any good if it were mixed with poison; even a sharp sword would not help a coward. Especially since you both uphold the Lotus Sūtra, there is no doubt that you will have a child as precious as jade, who will inherit the Lotus Sūtra. Congratulations to you! Your child will inherit not only your flesh and blood, but also your hearts. Why should you not have an easy delivery? On top of everything else, this charm will help you out.

Shijō Kingo Nyōbō Gosho, A Letter to the Wife of Shijō Kingo, Nyonin Gosho, Letters Addressed to Female Followers, Page 58-60