Whether you chant the Buddha's name, recite the sutra, or merely offer flowers and incense, all your virtuous acts will implant benefits and roots of goodness in your life. With this conviction you should strive in faith.

On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime, WND, 4

Written to Toki Jonin in 1255 from Kamakura

If a woman who believes in the Lotus Sutra should ever fall into the evil paths as a result of jealousy or ill temper or because of excessive greed, then the Thus Come One Shakyamuni, the Buddha Many Treasures, and the Buddhas of the ten directions would immediately be guilty of breaking the vow they have upheld over the span of countless major kalpas never to tell a lie. Their offense would be even greater than the wild falsehoods and deceptions of Devadatta or the outrageous lies told by Kokalika. But how could such a thing ever happen? Thus a person who embraces the Lotus Sutra is absolutely assured of its blessings.

The Recitation of the "Expedient Means" and "Life Span" Chapters, WND, 70

Written to Hiki Daigaku Saburo Yoshimoto's wife on April 17, 1264 from Kamakura

The 'Dharani' chapter in the eighth volume of the Lotus Sutra says, 'If you can shield and guard those who accept and uphold the mere name of the Lotus Sutra, your merit will be immeasurable.' In this passage, the Buddha is praising the Mother of Demon Children and the ten demon daughters for their vow to protect the votaries of the Lotus Sutra, and saying that the blessings from their vow to protect those who embrace the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra are beyond even the Buddha wisdom, which completely comprehends the three existences, to fathom. While by rights nothing should be beyond the grasp of the Buddha wisdom, the Buddha says here that the blessings that accrue from accepting and embracing the daimoku of the Lotus Sutra are the one thing that wisdom cannot measure.

Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man (2), WND, 131

Written in 1265 from Awa - recipient unknown

The Lotus Sutra of the Correct Law says that, if one hears this sutra and proclaims and embraces its title, one will enjoy merit beyond measure. And the Supplemented Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law says that one who accepts and upholds the name of the Lotus Sutra will enjoy immeasurable good fortune. These statements indicate that the good fortune one receives from simply chanting the daimoku is beyond measure.

The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra, WND, 143

Written in 1266 from Awa - recipient unknown

All disciples and lay supporters of Nichiren should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the spirit of many in body but one in mind, transcending all differences among themselves to become as inseparable as fish and the water in which they swim. This spiritual bond is the basis for the universal transmission of the ultimate Law of life and death. Herein lies the true goal of Nichiren's propagation. When you are so united, even the great desire for widespread propagation can be fulfilled. But if any of Nichiren's disciples should disrupt the unity of many in body but one in mind, they would be like warriors who destroy their own castle from within.

The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life, WND, 217

Written to Sairen-bo Nichijo on February 11, 1272 from Tsukahara on Sado

Abutsu-bo is therefore the treasure tower itself, and the treasure tower is Abutsu-bo himself. No other knowledge is purposeful. It is the treasure tower adorned with the seven kinds of treasures - hearing the correct teaching, believing it, keeping the precepts, engaging in meditation, practicing assiduously, renouncing one's attachments, and reflecting on oneself. You may think you offered gifts to the treasure tower of the Thus Come One Many Treasures, but that is not so. You offered them to yourself. You, yourself, are a Thus Come One who is originally enlightened and endowed with the three bodies. You should chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with this conviction. Then the place where you chant daimoku will become the dwelling place of the treasure tower.

On the Treasure Tower, WND, 299-300

Written to Abutsu-bo on March 13, 1272 from Tsukahara on Sado

I recently received an official pardon, and I will return to Kamakura. Can this be the year in which the passage "What I long ago hoped for has now been fulfilled" comes true for me? Without your protection, could I possibly have sustained my life? Could I have survived to be pardoned? My life's achievements are due entirely to you and to those like you.

Letter to Endo Saemon-no-jo, WND, 454

Written to Endo Saemon-no-jo on March 12, 1274 from Ichinosawa on Sado

The Nirvana Sutra reads: "There are three types of people whose illness is extremely difficult to cure. The first is those who slander the great vehicle; the second, those who commit the five cardinal sins; and the third, icchantikas, or persons of incorrigible disbelief. These three categories of illness are the gravest in the world."

It also states: "One who creates evil karma in this life... will surely suffer in hell.... But by making offerings to the three treasures, one avoids falling into hell and receives the retribution in this life, in the form of afflictions of the head, eye, or back."

On Curing Karmic Disease, WND, 631

Written to Ota Jomyo on November 3, 1275 from Minobu

The more gold is heated in the flames, the brighter will be its color; the more a sword is whetted, the sharper it will become. And the more one praises the blessings of the Lotus Sutra, the more one's own blessings will increase. Bear in mind that the twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra contain only a few passages elucidating the truth, but a great many words of praise.

The Blessings of the Lotus Sutra, WND, 673

Written to Kuwagayatsu Myomitsu on March 5, 1276 from Minobu

A woman who makes offerings to such a Gohonzon invites happiness in this life; and in the next, the Gohonzon will be with her and protect her always. Like a lantern in the dark, like a strong guide and porter on a treacherous mountain path, the Gohonzon will guard and protect you, Nichinyo, wherever you go.

The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon, WND, 832

Written to Nichinyo on August 23, 1277 from Minobu

Stop and ponder! How rare is the faith that moves one to give alms to the priest who knows the heart of the Lotus Sutra! One will not stray into the evil paths if one does so even once. Still greater are the benefits arising from ten or twenty contributions, of from five years, ten years, or a lifetime of contributions. They are beyond even the measure of the Buddha's wisdom. The Buddha taught that the blessings of a single offering to the votary of this sutra are a hundred, thousand, ten thousand, million times greater than those of offering countless treasures to Shakyamuni Buddha for eighty million kalpas.

Letter to Niike, WND, 1026-27

Written to Niike Saemon-no-jo in February of 1280 from Minobu

The Buddha taught that the blessings of a single offering to the votary of this sutra are a hundred, thousand, ten thousand, million times greater than those of offering countless treasures to Shakyamuni Buddha for eighty million kalpas. When one encounters this sutra, one will overflow with happiness and shed tears of joy. It seems impossible to repay one's debt to Shakyamuni Buddha. But by your frequent offerings to me deep in this mountain you will repay the merciful kindness of both the Lotus Sutra and Shakyamuni Buddha.

Letter to Niike, WND, 1027

Written to Niike Saemon-no-jo in February of 1280 from Minobu

As you well know, a sutra says that the boy Virtue Victorious, who offered a mud pie to the Buddha, was later reborn as King Ashoka, who ruled over most of the southern continent of Jambudvipa. Since the Buddha is worthy of respect, the boy was able to receive this great reward even though the pie was only mud. Shakyamuni Buddha teaches, however, that one who makes offerings to the votary of the Lotus Sutra in the latter age for even a single day will gain benefit a hundred, thousand, ten thousand, million times greater than one would by offering countless treasures to the Buddha for one million kalpas. How wonderful then is your having wholeheartedly supported the votary of the Lotus Sutra over the years! According to the Buddha's golden words, in the next life you are certain to be reborn in the pure land of Eagle Peak. What remarkable rewards you will gain!

The Person and the Law, WND, 1097

Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on September 11, 1281 from Minobu

When I put on this robe and recite the Lotus Sutra before the Buddha, while the robe is only one, it clothes 69,384 Buddhas. This is because there are 69,384 characters in the Lotus Sutra. And each character is a golden Buddha.

Therefore, these Buddhas will surely visit the two of you, husband and wife, who presented me with this robe and protect you as their followers.

In this life, your sincere offering becomes a prayer for the fulfillment of your every desire and a treasure. At the time of your deaths it will become the moon, the sun, a path, a bridge, a father, a mother, an ox or a horse, a litter, a cart, a lotus flower, and a mountain, and will usher you into the pure land of Eagle Peak. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

Learning From the Gosho, 178, August 1275

Daily life is a collection of both good things (value) and bad things (antivalue). If the value or benefit in someone's life outweighs the antivalue or loss, the person becomes happy. If the opposite is true, the person is unhappy.

Faith in the Mystic Law is the wellspring of value creation. It enables us to turn everything in our lives both our joys and sufferings into causes for accumulating the values of beauty; benefit and good in still greater measure. When we base ourselves on this kind of faith, everything that happens to us is a benefit.

Learning From the Gosho, P. 104

We are a gathering of the Buddha's children. Therefore, if we respect one another, our good fortune will multiply infinitely, like an image reflected between mirrors. A person who practices alone cannot experience this tremendous multiplication of benefit. (2/27/90)

The real benefit of the Mystic Law is of an inconspicuous kind. Just as trees grow taller and stronger year after year, adding growth rings imperceptible to the human eye, we, too, will grow to have a victorious existence. For this reason, it is important that we lead tenacious and balanced lives based on faith. (6/5/96)

Nothing is wasted in faith. One never loses out. Please be confident that all your efforts to help others and promote Buddhism are accumulating immense treasures of good fortune in your life. This is what is meant by inconspicuous benefit. (5/26/98)

The second Soka Gakkai president, Josei Toda, often used to cite fifteen years as the first milestone for showing actual proof in faith. He would say that even a small bud grows into a great tree after fifteen years. Someone who had not seen the bud sprout and grow during those fifteen years would be amazed by its growth; this is what is called an inconspicuous benefit. On the other hand, he observed, a great tree may also wither away during a fifteen-year period; this is an example of inconspicuous punishment or loss. (6/15/96)

Faith Into Action, pp. 90-91

Buddhism outlines the four debts of gratitude. These are the debts owed to one's parents, to all living beings, to one's sovereign and to the three treasures (the Buddha, the Law and the Priesthood).

According to one scholar's opinion, the tragedies of world history originate from the fact that people forget these debts of gratitude, not having been taught their profound meaning. Since animals have some awareness of the debts of gratitude, human beings should be that much more aware! Unless people understand the obligations that they, as human beings, are require to fulfill, our world is destined to relive a cruel and dismal history forever. Herein lies the significance of the propagation of Buddhism throughout the world.

Buddhism in Action, Vol. VI, pg. 103