It is preached in the Lotus Sūtra … that the merits of all the sūtras preached during the period of 40 years or so are all stored in the one Lotus Sūtra and the threefold bodied Buddhas in all the worlds throughout the universe are all Buddhas in manifestation of the one Śākyamuni Buddha. Therefore, “one Buddha equals all Buddhas,” and the two characters of myō and hō include all Buddhas. Accordingly, the merit of chanting the five-character daimoku of the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma is enormous indeed.
Shō Hokke Daimoku-shō, Treastise on Chanting the Daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra
Therefore, you should realize that being able to chant the daimoku of this sūtra is an experience more wonderful than a blind person gaining his eyesight and seeing his parents for the first time and rarer than a man being captured by a mighty enemy and being released by a special pardon to be reunited with his wife and children.
Hokke Daimoku Shō, Treatise on the Daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra
Muddy water has no mind but it still catches the moon’s reflection and naturally becomes lucid. Plants and trees catch the rain in order to blossom, but can we say they do this deliberately? The five characters of Myō, Hō, Ren, Ge, and Kyō are not the text of the sūtra nor a mere explanation; rather, they are the sole intent of the whole sūtra. Beginners may practice this without knowing the heart (of the Lotus Sūtra), but their practice will naturally harmonize with its intention.
Shishin Gohon-shō, The Four Depths of Faith and Five Stages of Practice
All the good deeds and virtues of the Buddha Sakyamuni are manifested in the title of the Lotus Sutra, that is, in the five letters: “Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo.” However sinful we may be, we shall be naturally endowed with all the deeds and virtues of the Buddha if we adhere to these five letters.
I, Nichiren, sincerely keep the most profound Lotus Sutra among other sutras which have been preached, are being preached, and will be preached. I also chant Odaimoku, gist of the sutra, by myself and teach others to chant it. Mugwort grass grows straight amidst the hemp field. Trees do not grow straight, but by cutting it straight, it becomes useful. If you chant the sutra as it states, your mind will be straightened. Be aware that it is hard for us to chant Odaimoku unless the spirit of the Eternal Buddha enters into our bodies.
Myomitsu Shonin Go-Shosok, Merits of Chanting Odaimoku
As an amber jewel removes dust and a magnet attracts iron, so are our dust and iron of evil karma removed by amber and the magnet of the daimoku. You should always think this way and continuously chant Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō.
Hokke Daimoku Shō, Treatise on the Daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra
A diamond is so hard that nothing can break it except the horn of a sheep and the shell of a tortoise. Large birds cannot snap the branch of a large tree called nyagrodha though the wren, a small bird said to nest on the eyelashes of mosquitoes, can. The evil karma of ordinary people like us, is as hard as a diamond and as big as nyagrodha. The daimoku of the Lotus Sutra, on the contrary, can easily break and snap the karma of ordinary people, like the horn of a sheep and the beak of a wren.
Hokke Daimoku Shō, Treatise on the Daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra
When one enters the water carrying a rhinoceros horn, the water will be kept away by 5 feet. When a leaf of sandalwood opens, the bad odor of eraṇḍa will disappear as far as 40 yojana (distance covered by a traveling man in 40 days). The evil karma of ordinary people is like the water and the eraṇḍa and the daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra is like the rhinoceros horn and leaf of sandalwood.
Hokke Daimoku Shō, Treatise on the Daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra
Although there is no mind in the lotus flower, it blossoms in response to the sunlight. A Japanese banana plant has no ears, but its growth is influenced by thunder. Likewise, we are able to become Buddhas by the virtue of the daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra, which is like the sunlight and the thunder for a lotus flower and a banana plant.
Hokke Daimoku Shō, Treatise on the Daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra
[R]egarding the daily practices, the daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra should be chanted, “Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō.” If possible, a verse or phrase of the Lotus Sūtra should respectfully be read. As an auxiliary practice one may say a prayer to Śākyamuni Buddha, the Buddha of Many Treasures, the numerous Buddhas throughout the universe, various bodhisattvas, Two Vehicles, Heavenly Kings, dragon gods, the eight kinds of gods and demi-gods who protect Buddhism as one wishes. Since we have many ignorant people today, the “3,000 existences contained in one thought” doctrine may be difficult to contemplate from the beginning. Nevertheless, those who wish to study it are encouraged to do so from the start.
Shō Hokke Daimoku-shō, Treastise on Chanting the Daimoku of the Lotus Sūtra
