Within Nichiren Buddhism, chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is regarded as a direct way to align one’s life with the fundamental Law, or Mystic Dharma, that underlies all phenomena. By voicing this title of the Lotus Sutra with faith and determination, practitioners are said to activate their inherent Buddha nature—the wellspring of wisdom, courage, and compassion present in every life. As this inner potential is awakened, it manifests as increased vitality, clarity, and resilience, which naturally supports both physical and mental well-being. Health, in this view, is not merely the absence of illness but the dynamic expression of a harmonized life condition.

A central teaching in this tradition is that chanting transforms karma—understood as deep-seated tendencies that shape body, mind, and environment. Illness and suffering are not seen as punishments, but as conditions that can be transformed at their root when one’s life-state is elevated. Through consistent practice, negative patterns are believed to be purified, giving rise to healthier habits, more constructive emotional responses, and circumstances that are more conducive to healing. This transformation is often described as an increase in “life force,” a robust inner energy that enables one to face difficulties without being overwhelmed by them.

Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo also functions as a disciplined meditative focus that stabilizes the mind. By repeatedly returning attention to the Mystic Law, practitioners cultivate a positive, hopeful outlook that reduces anxiety, anger, and despair. This shift in inner climate can lessen the subjective burden of illness, even when physical symptoms remain, and can encourage wiser choices regarding treatment, lifestyle, and self-care. Emotional balance, in turn, supports the body’s natural capacity to recover and maintain health.

From this perspective, the boundary between personal and global well-being becomes porous. As individuals elevate their life condition through chanting, they are encouraged to act with greater compassion and responsibility in their families, workplaces, and communities. The environment is seen as a reflection of life itself, so an inner transformation is believed to ripple outward, contributing—however subtly—to more peaceful, supportive, and humane social conditions. Thus, the practice is understood not as passive reliance on a mantra, but as an inner engine that inspires concrete action for one’s own health and for the welfare of others.