Within Soka Gakkai, the Lotus Sutra is revered as the highest and final teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha, the scriptural summit upon which its entire understanding of Buddhism rests. It is regarded as the ultimate revelation that all people, regardless of gender, social status, or background, inherently possess Buddha nature and can attain enlightenment. From this perspective, the sutra is not merely a text but a living expression of the dignity and potential of every human life. The humanistic emphasis on the worth of each individual and the possibility of becoming a Buddha in this lifetime is drawn directly from this universal message.

At the heart of Soka Gakkai practice lies the daimoku, Nam‑myoho‑renge‑kyo, understood as the title and essence of the Lotus Sutra. Chanting this phrase is seen as a direct way to activate the Buddha nature that the sutra proclaims, manifesting wisdom, courage, and compassion in the midst of daily circumstances. Rather than focusing on reciting or analyzing the entire text, the practice centers on this distilled core, following Nichiren’s teaching that the sutra’s profound truth is fully encapsulated in its title. In this way, the Lotus Sutra functions less as an object of distant study and more as an immediate, experiential principle accessed through vocal practice.

The doctrinal vision derived from the Lotus Sutra also shapes Soka Gakkai’s understanding of time and the life of the Buddha. The sutra is taken to reveal an eternal truth that transcends historical periods and presents the Buddha’s life as an enduring reality rather than a figure confined to the past. This view supports the conviction that enlightenment is not a remote ideal but a present possibility, available here and now through engagement with the Mystic Law expressed in Nam‑myoho‑renge‑kyo. Thus the sutra’s teaching is seen as pervading every moment, inviting practitioners to transform their inner life state.

In daily religious life, the Lotus Sutra serves as both philosophical foundation and practical guide. The Gohonzon, the object of devotion in Soka Gakkai, is regarded as embodying the life state of the Buddha as revealed in the sutra, so that chanting to it is understood as entering into the very world of the Lotus Sutra. Study of Nichiren’s writings, which interpret and clarify the sutra’s meaning, further anchors practice in its teachings. Through this integration of doctrine, ritual, and study, the Lotus Sutra becomes the wellspring for personal transformation and for the broader aspiration to contribute to the peace and happiness of society.