At the heart of Soka Gakkai’s spiritual life stands the Lotus Sutra, revered as the ultimate teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha. From this scripture flows the core practice of chanting its title, “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo,” and the conviction that all people possess the potential for Buddhahood. The Sutra is not treated merely as an ancient text, but as a living wellspring of guidance for transforming suffering and revealing the inherent dignity of life. In this way, it serves as the doctrinal and devotional foundation upon which the rest of Soka Gakkai’s study and practice is built.

Closely intertwined with the Lotus Sutra are the writings of Nichiren Daishonin, often referred to collectively as the Gosho. These letters and treatises, such as “On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime” and “The True Aspect of All Phenomena,” articulate Nichiren’s reading of the Lotus Sutra and his vision of a practice accessible to ordinary people. In Soka Gakkai, these writings are studied in modern compilations like The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin and The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, which make his thought available in an organized form. Through this lens, Nichiren’s works function as a bridge between the classical sutra and the concrete challenges of daily life, illuminating how enlightenment can be realized here and now.

Equally central are the writings and guidance of Soka Gakkai’s presidents, who have interpreted and applied Nichiren’s teaching in a modern context. The works of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda, including Makiguchi’s explorations of value-creating education and Toda’s lectures on Buddhist philosophy and the Lotus Sutra, helped shape a humanistic reading of Nichiren Buddhism. Daisaku Ikeda’s extensive output—such as The Human Revolution and The New Human Revolution, along with Buddhist commentaries and dialogues—offers narrative, philosophical, and practical perspectives on “human revolution,” the inner transformation that Soka Gakkai emphasizes. These writings are treated not as a separate canon, but as contemporary expressions of the same spirit found in the Lotus Sutra and Nichiren’s letters.

Finally, Soka Gakkai’s own study materials and introductory texts play a significant role in guiding practitioners. Publications such as Introduction to Buddhism, along with various study guides, commentaries, and regular study magazines, present the core ideas of the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren’s writings, and the presidents’ guidance in a systematic and accessible way. They outline the basics of practice—chanting, reciting portions of the Lotus Sutra, and engaging in study—while highlighting themes like human revolution and the transformation of society through inner change. In this layered way, scripture, classical commentary, modern guidance, and structured study materials together form a coherent body of writings that support both personal practice and communal faith.