The Lotus Sutra instructs that we must never allow the spread of its teaching to be cut off nor let devilish functions seize the advantage to obstruct it. Such negative influences are always trying to disrupt, block, or sever the path of mentor and disciple, the path of successors. They also try to exploit any disruption or division that may occur.

From The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 6