Faith in Nichiren Buddhism functions as the living core of the entire path, the inner stance that allows the teachings of the Lotus Sutra to become an active force in one’s life. It is not regarded as blind belief, but as a determined confidence in the Mystic Law—Nam‑myōhō‑renge‑kyō—and in the Buddha nature that all people inherently possess. Through this faith, chanting the daimoku is understood to “turn on” or reveal the Buddhahood already present within one’s own life, drawing forth wisdom, courage, and compassion. In this sense, faith is the prerequisite that enables the practice to move beyond a mere ritual and become a direct means of inner transformation.

At the same time, faith is expressed as trust in specific objects and teachings that embody this Law. Practitioners develop faith in the Gohonzon, the mandala that represents the Mystic Law and the enlightenment of the Buddha, and in the Lotus Sutra as the highest expression of the Buddha’s intent—that all people can attain enlightenment in this lifetime, exactly as they are. Faith also includes confidence in Nichiren as the votary of the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law, who clarified the concrete method of chanting Nam‑myōhō‑renge‑kyō as the essence of the Sutra. This constellation of faith in the Law, the Sutra, and Nichiren’s teaching forms the foundation upon which practice rests.

Faith further manifests as the power to persevere and to interpret difficulties in a transformative way. Nichiren speaks of maintaining “faith like flowing water,” continuous and unbroken, and “faith like a lion’s roar,” fearless in the face of adversity. With such faith, obstacles, suffering, and even persecution are not seen as signs that practice is failing, but as opportunities to transform karma and deepen insight. In this way, faith becomes the inner engine that sustains chanting and study through both favorable and adverse conditions, allowing the practitioner to keep moving steadily along the path of enlightenment.

Finally, faith in Nichiren Buddhism is validated and strengthened through “actual proof” in daily life. As practitioners chant with conviction, they look to the concrete changes in character, relationships, and circumstances as evidence that the practice is functioning in accord with the law of cause and effect. This experiential confirmation deepens faith, which in turn inspires compassionate action and a commitment to kōsen‑rufu—the widespread propagation of the Lotus Sutra as a basis for peace and respect for life. Thus faith is not an isolated inner feeling, but a dynamic, evolving relationship with the Mystic Law that simultaneously transforms the individual and contributes to the well‑being of the wider world.