The Zaike shugi, having found no acceptance by temples and monks, led to frequent slander from monks of the league of existing temples in regard to his temple, and Seifu (Nissen) was suppressed by being arrested twice along with his disciples and was stopped from going afar; however, in 1878 he increased the size of his sect to one having '30 groups of Karaku (Kyoto) butsuryu-ko and about 10,000 people.'
寺院・僧侶の意義を認めない徹底した在家主義は、やがて徒党を組む既成寺院の僧侶から度重なる当局への讒言となり、清風（日扇）は弟子とともに逮捕されること2回、遠足止めなどの弾圧を受けるが、1878年（明治11年）には清風（日扇）自ら「花洛佛立講三十三組、人数凡1万人」というほど敎線を伸ばした。