Further, in the Songo Shinzo Meimon (Collection of Comments on the “Object of Reverence”), which explains the Shoshin-ge, he wrote:

The phrase, “The reason for the Tathagata’s appearance in the world” means that the dharma that (Shakyamuni) appeared in this world of the various Buddhas to teach, “Was to preach the ocean-like Primal Vow of Amida.” The sole reason (Shakyamuni) appeared in the world of the various Buddhas was to teach about Amida Buddha’s Ocean-like Vow taught in the Single Vehicle (Larger Sutra).

As we can see in this passage, which the Venerable Master wrote in his later years, the term “tathagata” was not limited to Shakyamuni Buddha, but referred to all Buddhas, and that the purpose of all Buddhas appearing in this world was to preach the Larger Sutra which explains Amida Buddha’s Primal Vow.

Earlier scholar/monks asserted that the Lotus Sutra (Hokke-kyo) is the true sutra, the that Shakyamuni Buddha appeared in this world to preach. They also asserted that the sutras used in the Jodo- Shinshu teachings are not completely true, that rather, they are only a temporary truth, and even urged that they be discarded.

The Tendai and Nichiren Schools of Buddha-dharma consider the Lotus Sutra to be the sutra that Shakyamuni Buddha appeared in this world to preach, but as already mentioned, in our Jodo-Shinshu School the Larger Sutra is the sutra that explains the truth, and is considered the sutra that Shakyamuni Buddha appeared in this world to proclaim.