"Though one may never have violated a single precept and may be firm in one's aspiration for the way and hopeful of good fortune in one's next existence, if one turns one's back on the Lotus Sutra, then, as the sutra says, one will fall into the hell of incessant suffering and will continue to be reborn there for a countless number of kalpas."

Nichiren is making a shocking statement: even people who live perfectly moral lives and are deeply religious can suffer tremendously if they reject or slander the Lotus Sutra. This isn't about being a 'bad person' in the conventional sense - it's about turning away from the teaching that reveals everyone's potential for enlightenment. When we deny this fundamental truth about human nature, we create suffering for ourselves and others that can last for countless lifetimes.

"All affairs are best judged in the light of actual happenings. At the time of the disturbance that took place in the Jōkyū era, though the leaders in Kanto took no such steps, the sovereign of the nation, the Retired Emperor Gotoba, hoping to quell the forces that were ranged against the imperial court, summoned forty-one renowned priests and had them perform fifteen secret ceremonies... But seven days later, when the rites came to an end, the forces defending the capital went down in defeat."

Nichiren uses a concrete historical example to prove his point about wrong teachings leading to actual harm. Emperor Gotoba relied on True Word priests to perform elaborate rituals to protect his forces in battle, but was quickly defeated anyway. Nichiren argues this proves that when leaders rely on incorrect teachings - even ones that seem powerful and sophisticated - they will fail when it matters most. Actions based on wrong principles lead to real-world consequences.

"There are two senses in which we may speak of something as 'secret.' When we hide away gold or silver in a storehouse, we are secreting them from sight. But when we hide the fact that something is blemished or defective, this is an act of concealment."

Nichiren makes a brilliant distinction between two types of secrets: precious things we protect versus flaws we try to cover up. He argues that the Lotus Sutra is 'secret' like hidden treasure - it contains the most precious truths about human potential that were carefully revealed at the right time. The True Word teachings, however, are 'secret' like a cover-up - they hide the fact that they deny enlightenment to certain types of people and conceal fundamental truths about the Buddha's eternal nature.

"This is the very heart and core of the teachings of our own school, and I would caution you again and again never to forget this! All the other schools of Buddhism are to some extent guilty of slandering the Law. When you debate with them, you should concentrate upon this particular point."

Nichiren is giving his student a key strategic insight: the fundamental issue isn't about complex philosophical debates, but about whether a teaching affirms or denies people's inherent potential for enlightenment. Any doctrine that says some people cannot become Buddhas is ultimately slandering the deepest truth about human nature. This becomes the central criterion for evaluating all religious and philosophical teachings - do they elevate human potential or limit it?

"Though various schools may differ in their opinions regarding the Buddhist teachings, whether the persons practicing these teachings are clerics or lay believers, individuals of high or humble station, their basic reason for doing so is the desire to escape suffering and gain happiness in this life and in existences to come. But if, because they slander the Law, they as a consequence fall into the evil paths of existence, then all the wisdom of Manjushrī or all the eloquence of Pūrna cannot be of the slightest assistance."

Nichiren acknowledges that everyone who practices religion has the same fundamental desire - to be happy and avoid suffering. But he warns that following the wrong teaching, no matter how eloquently presented or wisely argued, will actually create the opposite result. Even the greatest wisdom and most persuasive arguments cannot save you if the basic premise is wrong. This is like following a beautifully drawn map that leads you off a cliff - the quality of the presentation doesn't matter if the directions are fundamentally incorrect.