The Daishonin writes, “If lay believers and their teacher pray with differing minds, their prayers will be as futile as trying to kindle a fire on water” (WND-1, 795). He declares that unless our hearts are united with our mentor, our prayers will not be fulfilled. By contrast, if the prayers of mentor and disciple are perfectly aligned, they will definitely come to be realized and even make the impossible possible. This is the formula of Nichiren Buddhism.
From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 292
Daisaku Ikeda