Letter to Shimoyama（1st of 10th paragraph）
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It may seem like boasting to say so, but if I go by what is written in the sutra, then with regard to the people of Japan, from the Son of Heaven above on down to the myriad commoners, I, Nichiren, bear three special relationships. First, I am their father and mother; second, I am their teacher; and third, I am the envoy of their sovereign.
The Lotus Sutra says, “He is the envoy of the Thus Come One.”54 It also says, “He will be the eyes of the world.”55 And it says, “As the light of the sun and moon . . .”56 And the Great Teacher Chang-an says, “One who rids the offender of evil is acting as his parent.”57
But the authorities heed the libelous words of those priests who are slanderers of the Law, persons of incorrigible disbelief, and the enemies of the nation. Failing to perceive the true meaning of such words, they proceed without the slightest hesitation to depart from the vitally important correct methods of government. Are they intentionally calling down disasters upon themselves, or why do they commit such vain acts?
Once the situation had settled down, they were apparently ashamed of having inflicted punishment upon an innocent man, and therefore they soon recalled me from exile. And it was likewise not long before the lay priest of Saimyō-ji departed from this world.
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