Among those who attacked Nichiren, there were at first no signs of punishment. But by now they have realized in terror that unless they fulfill the oath they swore before the Buddha, they will fall into the hell of incessant suffering. Consequently they are now earnestly carrying out their vow by punishing those who attacked the votary of the Lotus Sutra. The deaths of Ota Chikamasa, Nagasaki Tokitsuna and Daishin-bo, for example, who were all thrown from their horses, can be attributed to their treachery against the Lotus Sutra. The massive epidemics, nationwide famines, insurrections and foreign invasion suffered by Japan are general punishment.
Epidemics are also inconspicuous punishment.
The tragic deaths of Ota and the others both conspicuous and individual. Each of you should summon up the courage of a lion and never succumb to threats from anyone. The lion fears no other beast, nor do its cubs. Slanderers are like howling jackals, but Nichiren's followers are like roaring lions. Hojo Tokiyori and Hojo Tokimune, the past and present regents, pardoned me when they found I was innocent of the accusations against me.