Nichiren Daishonin states in “On the Buddha’s Behavior (Shuju onfurumai-gosho)”:

In the more than two thousand two hundred and twenty years since the Buddha’s passing, not even the likes of Mahakashyapa, Ananda, Ashvaghosha, Nagarjuna, Nanyue, Tiantai, Miaole, and Dengyo have propagated Myoho-Renge-Kyo. The five characters of Myoho-Renge-Kyo are the core of the Lotus Sutra and the origin of all Buddhas throughout the entire world. Upon seeing the signs that these five characters now must be propagated, I, Nichiren have set the precedent, today, at the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law. My disciples, you must follow one after another and become greater than Mahakashyapa or Ananda and, moreover, surpass even the Great Teacher Tiantai or Dengyo.

宗祖日莲大圣人于《种种御振舞御书》曰:

佛灭后二千二百二十余年间，迦叶、阿难等，马鸣、龙树等，南岳、天台等，妙乐、传教等，犹未弘之法华经肝心，诸佛眼目之妙法莲华经五字，于末法之始，弘扬于一阎浮提之瑞相，日莲为先驱也。和党二阵三阵相继，犹胜迦叶、阿难，亦越天台、传教。

Download Gosho Passage – January 2020 / 下载 2020 年 1 月 御书文段