Within Soka Gakkai, chanting stands at the very heart of religious life, functioning as the primary practice through which practitioners seek to awaken Buddhahood in the midst of ordinary existence. The daily rhythm of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, together with the recitation of selected portions of the Lotus Sutra, is regarded as a direct way of aligning one’s life with the ultimate law or “Mystic Law” of the universe. This is not approached as a petition to an external deity, but as an intentional engagement with the deepest dimension of one’s own life. Through this practice, the individual is understood to call forth an inherent Buddha nature, rather than importing something from outside.

Chanting is thus viewed as a powerful means of inner transformation. It is said to work at the level of fundamental tendencies or karma, shifting one’s basic life-condition from confusion, fear, or negativity toward wisdom, courage, and compassion. As this inner state changes, practitioners expect to experience greater resilience, insight, and creativity in responding to life’s challenges. In this way, chanting becomes both a spiritual discipline and a pragmatic tool, used in relation to concrete concerns such as health, relationships, work, and study, on the understanding that inner change becomes the cause for outer change.

The practice is also closely connected with the Gohonzon, the mandala before which chanting is performed. The Gohonzon is regarded as a kind of mirror that reflects the highest potential within life itself. Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon is therefore interpreted as a direct encounter with that potential, a disciplined way of repeatedly affirming and activating Buddhahood in the midst of everyday circumstances. Over time, this is believed to purify negative karmic patterns and strengthen the life force needed to overcome obstacles.

Finally, chanting has an unmistakable communal and societal dimension. Group chanting in meetings and gatherings fosters solidarity and shared determination among practitioners, reinforcing a collective aspiration for peace and the happiness of others. This shared practice is linked to the ideal of kosen-rufu, the widespread propagation of Nichiren’s Buddhism through the inner revolution of individuals. In this perspective, chanting is not only a private devotional act but also a means of contributing to the transformation of society, as personal awakening is seen as inseparable from the creation of value in the broader world.