Letter to Shimoyama（2nd of 13th paragraph）
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If now the votary of the Lotus Sutra should appear in the world and all these people throughout the country should serve him, like the Great Teacher Chi-tsang who ceased reading and reciting the Lotus Sutra and instead became a follower of the Great Teacher T’ien-t’ai, offering his own body as a living bridge to his teacher; or like those who had earlier abused Bodhisattva Never Disparaging but who later turned about and became his attendants and believers in his teachings; and if they served the votary of the Lotus Sutra for the space of one day or two, one month or two, one year or two, or even one lifetime or two, it would still be difficult for them to expiate the grave fault they had committed earlier by slandering the Lotus Sutra. But they show no sign of doing any such thing. On the contrary, the people of our time, all four categories of them, priests, nuns, laymen, and laywomen, give themselves up to arrogance.
These people say, “The Nembutsu believers cast aside the Lotus Sutra and simply recite the Nembutsu. Nichiren upholds the Lotus Sutra but does not approve of the Nembutsu. We, on the other hand, practice the Nembutsu and also put faith in the Lotus Sutra, observe the precepts and carry out all kinds of good actions!”
Such persons are like wild rabbits who try to hide their traces by running in a circle, or pheasants who try to hide by sticking their heads in a hole. They are no different from the people of the state of Lu who reviled Confucius [a native of Lu, without being aware of his greatness], or the monk Sunakshatra, who threatened the Buddha. It may be difficult at times to distinguish a deer from a horse, but it is hard for a hawk to change into a dove.82 How pitiful these people are! How pitiful!
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Notes
82. This statement is based on a passage from the Book of Rites. The hawk changing into a dove indicates dramatic change.