Four Phrases of the Primary Mystery

What Sakyamuni transmits [in Chapter 21, The Supernatural Powers of the Tathāgatas,] to Superb-Action and the other Great Bodhisattvas, who welled up from underground, is nothing less than (1) all the teachings of the Buddha, (2) all the unhindered supernatural powers of the Buddha, (3) all the treasury of the hidden core of the Buddha, and (4) all the profound achievements of the Buddha. These are called the Four Phrases of the Primary Mystery. Great Master Chih-i taught that the meanings that the title (Daimoku) expresses — that is, the meaning of the title itself, the purpose of the sutra, its essential teachings, the influence it has upon its readers, and the value of its teachings (which five he called the main things to be commented on in interpreting any sutra)—are expressed here in the Four Phrases of the Primary Mystery. Nichiren, on the other hand, believed that the Four Phrases of the Primary Mystery are to be found in the Sacred Title itself (Odaimoku), and what Sakyamuni now transmits to Superb-Action and the others is the Sacred Title of NAMU-MYOHO-RENGE-KYO. (“I devote myself to the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.

Introduction to the Lotus Sutra