Letter to Shimoyama（1st of 11th paragraph）
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Now those who have become the rulers of Japan can dispose of all matters as they see fit. In any matter they should invite representatives of the opinions on both sides before deciding which opinion is superior and settling the question. Yet in the case of Nichiren alone they do not summon him to a confrontation with the other Buddhist priests, but arbitrarily accuse him of major faults. This is an extremely serious affair. Even if Nichiren were guilty of such major faults, this would not be conducive to the peace and safety of the nation.
If we examine Formulary of Adjudications, we see that it is made up of fifty-one articles and ends with a vow before the gods. The first and second articles deal with matters relating to the gods and Buddhas, and so on for fifty-one articles. Yet this person who holds in his hand the Lotus Sutra, which is essential to matters pertaining to the gods and Buddhas, is not summoned so that he may confront those who slander him, but is treated as though the accusations of the slanderers were true and is condemned to execution. The rulers may be responsible for government actions that are in violation of the vow recorded in Formulary of Adjudications, but this is surely the most serious of such acts. Do they intend, simply because of their hatred for Nichiren, to destroy the nation and bring ruin on themselves?
Duke Ai of the state of Lu,63 it is recorded, spoke of a person who was renowned for his forgetfulness, and who was said to have forgotten to take along his wife when he moved to a new dwelling. But Confucius commented that there are those who do even worse, namely, who forget their own safety and well-being. Persons who become the rulers of a nation and then conduct the affairs of government in an unjust manner are examples of what Confucius meant.
Or are the rulers of the nation unacquainted with the details of these matters I am speaking of? Even if they are ignorant of them, they can hardly escape the grave charge of acting as mortal enemies of the Lotus Sutra.
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Notes
63. Duke Ai was the twenty-fifth ruler (r. 494–468 b.c.e.) of the state of Lu, China, during the time of Confucius, who was a native of Lu.