him in the next life since the latter protected the Daishonin in this life. Thus the Daishonin suggests the profound
and timeless nature of the teacherdisciple relationship.
1. The twenty-line verse of the “Encouraging Devotion” chapter of the Lotus Sutra enumerates the types of persecutions that will be met when the Lotus Sutra is propagated in the fearful latter age after Shakyamuni’s death. These persecutors were
