QUESTION: Is there evidence of meritorious acts in past lives?

ANSWER: The Lotus Sūtra, fascicle 2, chapter 3 on “A Parable” states, “He who believes in this sūtra in this life must have seen the Buddha, shown respect to Him, given offerings and listened to Him preach this sutra.” The sūtra also suggests in the tenth chapter on “The Teacher of the Dharma,” “Suppose there are those who, upon listening to even a verse or a phrase of the Lotus Sūtra, will rejoice even for a moment of thought after the extinction of the Buddha. (…) You should know that such persons made offerings to ten trillion Buddhas in previous lives.”

Shugo Kokka-ron, Treatise on Protecting the Nation, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 1, Page 65

According to this explanation by T’ien-t’ai, since the essential section of the Lotus Sūtra is the essence of Buddhism, all other sūtras, be they Mahāyāna or Hinayāna, provisional or true, and exoteric and esoteric, such as the Nirvana Sūtra and Great Sun Buddha Sūtra, are Lesser Vehicle teachings. … Only the doctrines of the Tendai Sect comprise the Great Vehicle. It is because all sūtras except the Lotus Sūtra do not reveal the great dharmas of attaining enlightenment by persons of the Two Vehicles (śrāvaka and pratyekabuddha) and the concept of the Eternal Buddha.

Shōjō Daijō Fumbetsu-shō, The Differences between Hinayāna and Mahāyāna Teachings, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 192

The original substance of both Goddess Amaterasu and Great Bodhisattva Hachiman is the Lord Teacher Śākyamuni Buddha. For instance, Śākyamuni Buddha is the moon shining in the sky whereas other Buddhas and the various bodhisattvas are reflections of the moon shining upon bodies of water at various places. Therefore, one who constructs a statue of Śākyamuni Buddha in fact also constructs various Buddhas in the worlds throughout the universe. When the head sways, the hair sways. When the mind is at work, the body moves. When a strong wind blows, plants stir. When the earth quakes, waves rise in the ocean. Likewise, when we construct a statue of Śākyamuni Buddha to His liking, can there be any plants that remain unmoved? How can there be bodies of water that do not form waves?

Nichigen-nyo Sakabutsu Kuyōji, Construction of a Statue of Śākyamuni by Lady Nichigen, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Followers II, Volume 7, Page 124

[T]he Lotus Sūtra declares itself superior to the Nirvana Sūtra while it is stated in the Nirvana Sūtra: “In the Lotus Sūtra 8,000 śrāvakas are guaranteed to attain Buddhahood in the future. It is as if a great harvest had been reaped in autumn and stored for winter, leaving nothing more than gleaning for the Nirvana Sūtra.” Thus, the Nirvana Sūtra itself implies that it is inferior to the Lotus Sūtra. Though this statement in the Nirvana Sūtra seems clear enough, even the wisest Northern and Southern masters in China did not comprehend it. Scholars in the Latter Age must pay much attention to this. This passage of the Nirvana Sūtra not only seems to show the superiority of the Lotus Sūtra to the Nirvana Sūtra, but also reveals its comparative superiority among all the sūtras in the entire universe. Though it is understandable to doubt this puzzling statement in the Nirvana Sūtra, the superiority of the Lotus Sūtra among all the sūtras has already been proven by Grand Masters T’ien-t’ai, Miao-lê, and Dengyō. Men of wisdom should keep this statement in mind.

Hōon-jō, Essay on Gratitude, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Pages 5.

[I]n the 20th chapter on the “Never-Despising Bodhisattva” of the Lotus Sūtra, the Buddha describes Himself in His previous lives: “Once upon a time, there was a bodhisattva named Never-Despising. … He propagated the Lotus Sūtra fervently despite persecutions.” The sūtra describes how evil people spoke ill of him, abused him or struck him with a stick or a piece of wood, and threw pieces of tile or stones at him. By showing such ascetic practices in His previous lives, the Buddha encouraged those who propagate in the beginning of the Latter Age of Degeneration. Propagating the Lotus Sūtra, Never-Despising Bodhisattva was persecuted, and was struck with a stick or a piece of wood but attained the rank of the Buddha instantly. As I propagated the Lotus Sūtra, my house was set on fire at Matsubagayatsu, and I was attacked by Tōjō Kagenobu at Komatsubara, exiled to Izu, and banished to Sado Island. Therefore, I will reach Buddhahood in the future without a doubt.

Hakii Saburō-dono Go-henji, A Response to Lord Hakii Saburō, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 185

Of the Lotus-Nirvana period, the Nirvana Sūtra was expounded in one day and night while facing death. Śākyamuni Buddha passed away at the age of 80, but traditions also say that Śākyamuni was 79, 80, 81, 82, 105, or 120 years old when He died. The Sūtra of Clarification of the Age of Semblance Dharma, which foretells the decline of Buddhism during the Age of Semblance Dharma and advises the practice of almsgiving, was preached by the Hiraṇyavatī River just before the death of the Buddha. Thus, this sūtra is regarded to be the conclusion of the Nirvana Sūtra.

Ichidai Goji Keizu, Genealogical Chart of the Buddha’s Lifetime Teachings in Five Periods, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Page 244

Grand Master T’ien-t’ai had to engage in vigorous disputes against three Southern and seven Northern masters in establishing his new theology, and Grand Master Dengyō in Japan had to dispute against the six schools of Buddhism in Nara during the reign of Emperor Kammu. Whether or not Buddhist masters encountered hardships depended on whether their opinions were adopted by the wise king or rejected by the foolish king; it did not depend on whether or not their ways of propagation were in accordance with the intent of the Buddha. The situations were like this even during the Ages of the True and Semblance Dharmas, not to speak of the Latter Age of Degeneration! I, Nichiren, incurred the displeasure of the Kamakura Shogunate for the sake of the Lotus Sūtra. This is the greatest happiness that ever happened to me because it is like exchanging worthless pieces of tile and stones for pieces of gold and silver.

Hakii Saburō-dono Go-henji, A Response to Lord Hakii Saburō, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 2, Page 185-186

In ancient times, a little boy named Tokusho offered a rice cake made of sand to the Buddha. Due to this merit he was reborn as the Emperor the king of Jambudvīpa. You have donated five shō of polished rice. How can you not become a Buddha? This will be especially so in this period of hunger and thirst!

Hakumai Wakame Gosho, A Letter of Polished Rice and Wakame Seaweed, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 6, Followers I, Page 170

[I]f we are to believe in the Buddha’s will, we must comprehend the teachings of all the other sūtras as reflected upon the clear mirror of the Lotus Sūtra. Now, it is stated in the Lotus Sūtra: “The Lotus Sūtra is above all the other sūtras.” This means that just as Indra resides on the top of Mt. Sumeru, or a wish-fulfilling gem exists on the head of the Wheel-turning Noble King, or the moon shines over various trees, or a protuberance is seen on the head of Buddhas, the Lotus Sūtra is a wish-fulfilling gem placed above all the Buddhist sūtras.

Hōon-jō, Essay on Gratitude, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 3, Pages 4.